Detection of early-stage pancreatic adenocarcinoma

ABSTRACT

Described herein are compositions and methods of use of anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies or fragments thereof, such as murine, chimeric, humanized or human PAM4 antibodies. The subject antibodies show a number of novel and useful diagnostic characteristics, such as binding with high specificity to pancreatic and other cancers, but not to normal pancreatic tissues and binding to a high percentage of early stage pancreatic cancers. In preferred embodiments, the antibodies bind to pancreatic cancer mucins. The antibodies and fragments are of use for the detection and diagnosis of early stage pancreatic cancer. In preferred embodiments, the anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies can be used for immunoassay of serum samples, wherein the immunoassay can detect a marker for early stage pancreatic cancer in serum. More preferably, the serum is extracted with an organic phase, such as butanol, before immunoassay.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/537,803, filed Aug. 7, 2009, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/849,791 (now abandoned), filed Sep. 4, 2007, which was a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/461,885 (now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,282,567) filed Jun. 16, 2003, which claimed the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/388,314, filed Jun. 14, 2002. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/537,803 claimed the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. Nos. 61/087,463, filed Aug. 8, 2008, and 61/144,227, filed Jan. 13, 2009. The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/297,303, filed Jan. 22, 2010; 61/323,944, filed Apr. 14, 2010, 61/350,567, filed Jun. 2, 2010, and 61/375,119, filed Aug. 19, 2010. The text of each priority application cited above is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This work was supported in part by NIH grant RO1-CA096924. The U.S. Government may have certain rights in this invention.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Mar. 10, 2011, is named IMM33US1.txt and is 49,765 bytes in size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the use of anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies that bind with high selectivity to pancreatic cancer cells to detect and/or diagnose pancreatic adenocarcinoma, preferably at the earliest stages of the disease. More preferably, antibody-based assays are capable of detecting about 85% or more of pancreatic adenocarcinomas, with a false positive rate of 5% or less for healthy controls. In particular embodiments, the methods and compositions can be used to detect and/or diagnose pancreatic adenocarcinoma by screening serum samples from subjects and preferably can detect 60% or more of stage I pancreatic cancers and 80% or more of stage II cancers by serum sample analysis.

In preferred embodiments, the anti-pancreatic cancer antibody competes for binding to pancreatic cancer mucin with a PAM4 antibody comprising the light chain variable region complementarity-determining region (CDR) sequences CDR1 (SASSSVSSSYLY, SEQ ID NO:1); CDR2 (STSNLAS, SEQ ID NO:2); and CDR3 (HQWNRYPYT, SEQ ID NO:3); and the heavy chain CDR sequences CDR1 (SYVLH, SEQ ID NO:4); CDR2 (YINPYNDGTQYNEKFKG, SEQ ID NO:5) and CDR3 (GFGGSYGFAY, SEQ ID NO:6). Most preferably, the anti-pancreatic cancer antibody is a humanized PAM4 (hPAM4) antibody comprising the light chain CDR sequences CDR1 (SASSSVSSSYLY, SEQ ID NO:1); CDR2 (STSNLAS, SEQ ID NO:2); and CDR3 (HQWNRYPYT, SEQ ID NO:3); and the heavy chain CDR sequences CDR1 (SYVLH, SEQ ID NO:4); CDR2 (YINPYNDGTQYNEKFKG, SEQ ID NO:5) and CDR3 (GFGGSYGFAY, SEQ ID NO:6), along with human antibody framework (FR) and constant region sequences.

2. Related Art

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant growth of the pancreas that mainly occurs in the cells of the pancreatic ducts. This disease is the ninth most common form of cancer, yet it is the fourth and fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women, respectively. Cancer of the pancreas is almost always fatal, with a five-year survival rate that is less than 3%.

The most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, abdominal pain, and weight loss, which, together with other presenting factors, are nonspecific in nature. Thus, diagnosing pancreatic cancer at an early stage of tumor growth is often difficult and requires extensive diagnostic work-up, often times including exploratory surgery. Endoscopic ultrasonography and computed tomography are the best noninvasive means available today for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. However, reliable detection of small tumors, as well as differentiation of pancreatic cancer from focal pancreatitis, is difficult. The vast majority of patients with pancreatic cancer are presently diagnosed at a late stage when the tumor has already extended outside of the capsule to invade surrounding organs and/or has metastasized extensively. Gold et al., Crit. Rev. Oncology/Hematology, 39:147-54 (2001). Late detection of the disease is common, and early pancreatic cancer diagnosis is rare in the clinical setting. This is significant, since late detection of pancreatic cancer results in low survival rate.

Current treatment procedures available for pancreatic cancer have not led to a cure, or to a substantially improved survival time. Surgical resection has been the only modality that offers a chance at survival. However, due to a large tumor burden, only 10% to 25% of patients are candidates for “curative resection.” For those patients undergoing a surgical treatment, the five-year survival rate is still poor, averaging only about 10%.

Early detection and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, as well as appropriate staging of the disease, would provide an increased survival advantage. A number of laboratories have attempted to develop a diagnostic procedure based upon the release of a tumor-associated marker into the bloodstream, as well as detection of the marker substance within biopsy specimens. The best previously-characterized tumor associated marker for pancreatic cancer has been the immunoassay for CA19.9. Elevated levels of this sialylated Le^(a) epitope structure were found in 70% of pancreatic cancer patients but were not found in any of the focal pancreatitis specimens examined. However, CA19.9 levels were found to be elevated in a number of other malignant and benign conditions, and currently the assay cannot be used for diagnosis. The assay is useful for monitoring, with continued increase in CA19.9 serum levels after surgery being indicative of a poor prognosis. Many other monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been reported with immunoassays for diagnosis in varying stages of development. These include but are not limited to DUPAN2, SPAN1, B72.3, Ia3, and various anti-CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen, or CEACAM5) antibodies.

Antibodies, in particular MAbs and engineered antibodies or antibody fragments, have been tested widely and shown to be of value in detection and treatment of various human disorders, including cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases [Filpula and McGuire, Exp. Opin. Ther. Patents (1999) 9: 231-245]. The clinical utility of an antibody or an antibody-derived agent is primarily dependent on its ability to bind to a specific targeted antigen associated with a particular disorder. Selectivity is valuable for delivering a diagnostic or therapeutic agent, such as drugs, toxins, cytokines, hormones, hormone antagonists, enzymes, enzyme inhibitors, oligonucleotides, growth factors, radionuclides, angiogenesis inhibitors or metals, to a target location during the detection and treatment phases of a human disorder, particularly if the diagnostic or therapeutic agent is toxic to normal tissue in the body. Radiolabeled antibodies have been used with some success in numerous malignancies, including ovarian cancer, colon cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, and lymphomas. This technology may also prove useful for pancreatic cancer. However, previously reported antibodies against pancreatic cancer antigens have not been successfully employed to date for the effective therapy or early detection and/or diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

There remains a need in the art for antibodies that exhibit high selectivity for pancreatic cancer and other types of cancers, compared to normal pancreatic tissues and other normal tissues. In particular, there remains a need for antibodies that perform as a useful diagnostic and/or therapeutic tool for pancreatic cancer, preferably at the earliest stages of the disease, and that exhibit enhanced uptake at targeted antigens, decreased binding to constituents in the blood of healthy individuals and thereby also optimal protection of normal tissues and cells from toxic therapeutic agents when these are conjugated to such antibodies. Use of such antibodies to detect pancreatic cancer-associated antigens in body fluids, particularly blood, can enable improved earlier diagnosis of this disease, so long as it differentiates well from benign diseases, and can also be used for monitoring response to therapy and potentially also to enhance prognosis by indicating disease burden.

SUMMARY

In various embodiments, the present invention concerns antibodies, antigen-binding antibody fragments and fusion proteins that bind to pancreatic cancer cells, with little or no binding to normal or non-neoplastic pancreatic cells. Preferably, the antibodies bind to the earliest stages of pancreatic cancer, with detection rates of about 54% for PanIN-1A, 75% for Pan1B and 86% for PanIN-2. More preferably, the antibodies bind to 80 to 90% or more of human invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia, PanIN-1A, PanIN-1B and PanIN-2 lesions. Most preferably, the antibodies can distinguish between early stage pancreatic cancer and non-malignant conditions such as pancreatitis. Such antibodies are of particular use for early detection of cancer and differential diagnosis between early stage pancreatic cancer and benign pancreatic conditions. In preferred embodiments, such antibodies are of use for in vivo or ex vivo analysis of samples from individuals suspected of having early stage pancreatic or certain other cancers. More preferably, the antibodies are of use for detection and diagnosis of early stage pancreatic cancer by analysis of serum samples.

The antibodies, antibody fragments or fusion proteins may be derived by immunization and/or selection with mucin, and are preferably reactive against mucin of human pancreatic cancer. Accordingly, the antibodies, antibody fragments and fusion proteins preferably bind to an antigen associated with pancreatic cancer cells. More preferably, the antibodies, antibody fragments or fusion proteins may bind to a mucin expressed in pancreatic cancer, such as MUC-1 or MUC-5.

In alternative embodiments, the antibodies, antibody fragments or fusion proteins may bind to synthetic peptide sequences, for example to phage display peptides. Exemplary peptides that may bind to the anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies include, but are not limited to, WTWNITKAYPLP (SEQ ID NO:7) and ACPEWWGTTC (SEQ ID NO:8). Such synthetic peptides may be linear or cyclic and may or may not compete with antibody binding to the endogenous pancreatic cancer antigen. Amino acids in certain positions of the synthetic peptide sequences may be less critical for antibody binding than others. For example, in SEQ ID NO:7 the residues K, A and L at positions 7, 8 and 11 of the peptide sequence may be varied while still retaining antibody binding. Similarly, in SEQ ID NO:8 the threonine residues at positions 8 and 9 of the sequence may be varied, although substitution of the threonine at position 9 may significantly affect antibody binding to the peptide.

Binding of the antibodies to a target pancreatic cancer antigen may be inhibited by treatment of the target antigen with reagents such as dithiothreitol (DTT) and/or periodate. Thus, binding of the antibodies to a pancreatic cancer antigen may be dependent upon the presence of disulfide bonds and/or the glycosylation state of the target antigen. In more preferred embodiments, the epitope recognized by the subject antibodies is not cross-reactive with other reported mucin-specific antibodies, such as the MA5 antibody, the CLH2-2 antibody and/or the 45M1 antibody (see, e.g., Major et al., J Histochem Cytochem. 35:139-48, 1987; Dion et al., Hybridoma 10:595-610, 1991).

The subject antibodies or fragments may be naked antibodies or fragments or preferably are conjugated to at least one therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent for delivery of the agent to target tissues. In alternative embodiments, the PAM4 antibodies or fragments may be part of a bispecific fusion protein or antibody with a first binding site for a target cell antigen and a second binding site for a hapten conjugated to a targetable construct. The targetable construct may in turn be attached to at least one therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent, of use in pretargeting techniques.

In preferred embodiments, the subject antibody, antibody fragment or fusion protein comprises a murine, chimeric, humanized or human PAM4 antibody or fragment, comprising the light chain variable region CDR sequences CDR1 (SASSSVSSSYLY, SEQ ID NO:1); CDR2 (STSNLAS, SEQ ID NO:2); and CDR3 (HQWNRYPYT, SEQ ID NO:3); and the heavy chain variable region CDR sequences CDR1 (SYVLH, SEQ ID NO:4); CDR2 (YINPYNDGTQYNEKFKG, SEQ ID NO:5) and CDR3 (GFGGSYGFAY, SEQ ID NO:6).

Particular embodiments may concern compositions and methods of use of murine PAM4 antibodies, preferably comprising murine PAM4 variable region sequences as disclosed in FIGS. 1A and 1B (SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:12). Such murine PAM4 antibodies or fragments may be of use in in vitro or ex vivo diagnostic techniques, such as immunohistochemical analysis of tissue samples or immunoassay of body fluid samples from subjects suspected of having pancreatic cancer or other types of cancer.

Other particular embodiments may concern compositions and methods of use of chimeric PAM4 antibodies, comprising murine variable region sequences attached to human antibody constant region sequences. Preferably the chimeric PAM4 antibodies or fragments comprise the cPAM4 variable region sequences shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B (SEQ ID NO:13 and SEQ ID NO:14). Such chimeric antibodies are less immunogenic in humans than murine antibodies, while retaining the antigen-binding specificities of the parent murine antibody. Chimeric antibodies are well known in the art for use in diagnostic and/or therapeutic treatment of cancer.

Still other particular embodiments may concern compositions and methods of use of humanized PAM4 antibodies or fragments thereof, comprising the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of a murine PAM4 MAb as discussed above and human antibody framework region (FR) and constant region sequences. In a preferred embodiment, the FRs of the light and heavy chain variable regions of the humanized PAM4 antibody or fragment thereof comprise at least one amino acid substituted from the corresponding FRs of a murine PAM4 MAb. Still more preferred, the humanized PAM4 antibody or fragment thereof may comprise at least amino acid residue selected from amino acid residues 5, 27, 30, 38, 48, 66, 67 and 69 of the murine PAM4 heavy chain variable region (FIG. 1B, SEQ ID NO:12) and/or at least one amino acid selected from amino acid residues 21, 47, 59, 60, 85, 87 and 100 of the murine PAM4 light chain variable region (FIG. 1A, SEQ ID NO:10). Most preferably, the humanized PAM4 antibody or fragment thereof comprises the hPAM4 V_(H) amino acid sequence of FIG. 4B (SEQ ID NO:19) and the hPAM4 V_(K) amino acid sequence of FIG. 4A (SEQ ID NO:16).

In alternative embodiments, the anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies may be murine, chimeric, humanized or human antibodies that bind to the same antigenic determinant (epitope) as, or compete for binding to human pancreatic mucin with, a chimeric PAM4 (cPAM4) antibody. As discussed below, the cPAM4 antibody is one that comprises the light chain variable region CDR sequences CDR1 (SASSSVSSSYLY, SEQ ID NO:1); CDR2 (STSNLAS, SEQ ID NO:2); and CDR3 (HQWNRYPYT, SEQ ID NO:3); and the heavy chain variable region CDR sequences CDR1 (SYVLH, SEQ ID NO:4); CDR2 (YINPYNDGTQYNEKFKG, SEQ ID NO:5) and CDR3 (GFGGSYGFAY, SEQ ID NO:6). Antibodies that bind to the same antigenic determinant may be identified by a variety of techniques known in the art, such as by competitive binding studies using the cPAM4 antibody as the competing antibody and human pancreatic mucin as the target antigen. (See, e.g., Example 1 below.) Antibodies that block (compete for) binding to human pancreatic mucin of a cPAM4 antibody are referred to as cross-blocking antibodies. Preferably, such cross-blocking antibodies are prepared by immunization with extracts comprising human pancreatic cancer mucins.

Another embodiment is a cancer cell targeting diagnostic immunoconjugate comprising an anti-pancreatic cancer antibody, antibody fragment or fusion protein that is bound to at least one diagnostic (or detection) agent.

Preferably, the diagnostic agent is selected from the group consisting of a radionuclide, a contrast agent, a fluorescent agent, a chemiluminescent agent, a bioluminescent agent, a paramagnetic ion, an enzyme and a photoactive diagnostic agent. Still more preferred, the diagnostic agent is a radionuclide with an energy between 20 and 4,000 keV or is a radionuclide selected from the group consisting of ¹¹⁰In, ¹¹¹In, ¹⁷⁷Lu, ¹⁸F, ⁵²Fe, ⁶²Cu, ⁶⁴Cu, ⁶⁷Cu, ⁶⁷Ga, ⁶⁸Ga, ⁸⁶Y, ⁹⁰Y, ⁸⁹Zr, ^(94m)Tc, ⁹⁴Tc, ^(99m)Tc, ¹²⁰I, ¹²³I, ¹²⁴I, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, ¹⁵⁴⁻¹⁵⁸Gd, ³²P, ¹¹C, ¹³N, ¹⁵O, ¹⁸⁶Re, ¹⁸⁸Re, ⁵¹Mn, ^(52m)Mn, ⁵⁵Co, ⁷²As, ⁷⁵Br, ⁷⁶Br, ^(82m)Rb, ⁸³Sr, or other gamma-, beta-, or positron-emitters. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the diagnostic radionuclide ¹⁸F is used for labeling and PET imaging, as described in the Examples below. The ¹⁸F may be attached to an antibody, antibody fragment or peptide by complexation to a metal, such as aluminum, and binding of the ¹⁸F-metal complex to a chelating moiety that is conjugated to a targeting protein, peptide or other molecule.

Also preferred, the diagnostic agent is a paramagnetic ion, such as chromium (III), manganese (II), iron (III), iron (II), cobalt (II), nickel (II), copper (II), neodymium (III), samarium (III), ytterbium (III), gadolinium (III), vanadium (II), terbium (III), dysprosium (III), holmium (III) and erbium (III), or a radiopaque material, such as barium, diatrizoate, ethiodized oil, gallium citrate, iocarmic acid, iocetamic acid, iodamide, iodipamide, iodoxamic acid, iogulamide, iohexyl, iopamidol, iopanoic acid, ioprocemic acid, iosefamic acid, ioseric acid, iosulamide meglumine, iosemetic acid, iotasul, iotetric acid, iothalamic acid, iotroxic acid, ioxaglic acid, ioxotrizoic acid, ipodate, meglumine, metrizamide, metrizoate, propyliodone, and thallous chloride.

In still other embodiments, the diagnostic agent is a fluorescent labeling compound selected from the group consisting of fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, phycoerytherin, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, o-phthaldehyde and fluorescamine, a chemiluminescent labeling compound selected from the group consisting of luminol, isoluminol, an aromatic acridinium ester, an imidazole, an acridinium salt and an oxalate ester, or a bioluminescent compound selected from the group consisting of luciferin, luciferase and aequorin. In another embodiment, the diagnostic immunoconjugates are used in intraoperative, endoscopic, or intravascular tumor diagnosis.

Another embodiment is a cancer cell-targeting therapeutic immunoconjugate comprising an antibody or fragment thereof or fusion protein bound to at least one therapeutic agent. Preferably, the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of a radionuclide, an immunomodulator, a hormone, a hormone antagonist, an enzyme, an oligonucleotide such as an anti-sense oligonucleotide or a siRNA, an enzyme inhibitor, a photoactive therapeutic agent, a cytotoxic agent such as a drug or toxin, an angiogenesis inhibitor and a pro-apoptotic agent. In embodiments where more than one therapeutic agent is used, the therapeutic agents may comprise multiple copies of the same therapeutic agent or else combinations of different therapeutic agents.

In one embodiment, an oligonucleotide, such as an antisense molecule or siRNA inhibiting bcl-2 expression as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,033 (the Examples section of which is incorporated herein by reference), may be conjugated to, or form the therapeutic agent portion of an immunoconjugate or antibody fusion protein. Alternatively, the oligonucleotide may be administered concurrently or sequentially with a naked or conjugated anti-pancreatic cancer antibody or antibody fragment, such as a PAM4 antibody. In a preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotide is an antisense oligonucleotide that is directed against an oncogene or oncogene product, such as bcl-2, p53, ras or other well-known oncogenes.

In a preferred embodiment, the therapeutic agent is a cytotoxic agent, such as a drug or a toxin. Also preferred, the drug is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen mustards, ethylenimine derivatives, alkyl sulfonates, nitrosoureas, gemcitabine, triazenes, folic acid analogs, anthracyclines, taxanes, COX-2 inhibitors, pyrimidine analogs, purine analogs, antibiotics, enzyme inhibitors, epipodophyllotoxins, platinum coordination complexes, vinca alkaloids, substituted ureas, methyl hydrazine derivatives, adrenocortical suppressants, hormone antagonists, endostatin, taxols, camptothecins, SN-38, doxorubicins and their analogs, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, antimitotics, anti-angiogenic agents, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, heat shock protein (HSP90) inhibitors, proteosome inhibitors, HDAC inhibitors, pro-apoptotic agents, methotrexate, CPT-11, and a combination thereof.

In another preferred embodiment, the therapeutic agent is a toxin selected from the group consisting of ricin, abrin, alpha toxin, saporin, ribonuclease (RNase), DNase I, Staphylococcal enterotoxin-A, pokeweed antiviral protein, gelonin, diphtheria toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin, and Pseudomonas endotoxin and combinations thereof. Or an immunomodulator selected from the group consisting of a cytokine, a stem cell growth factor, a lymphotoxin, a hematopoietic factor, a colony stimulating factor (CSF), an interferon (IFN), a stem cell growth factor, erythropoietin, thrombopoietin and a combinations thereof.

Alternatively, the therapeutic agent is an enzyme selected from the group consisting of malate dehydrogenase, staphylococcal nuclease, delta-V-steroid isomerase, yeast alcohol dehydrogenase, alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, triose phosphate isomerase, horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, asparaginase, glucose oxidase, beta-galactosidase, ribonuclease, urease, catalase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glucoamylase and acetylcholinesterase. Such enzymes may be used, for example, in combination with prodrugs that are administered in relatively non-toxic form and converted at the target site by the enzyme into a cytotoxic agent. In other alternatives, a drug may be converted into less toxic form by endogenous enzymes in the subject but may be reconverted into a cytotoxic form by the therapeutic enzyme.

Other therapeutic agents include radionuclides such as ¹⁴C, ¹³N, ¹⁵O, ³²P, ³³P, ⁴⁷Sc, ⁵¹Cr, ⁵⁷Co, ⁵⁸Co, ⁵⁹Fe, ⁶²Cu, ⁶⁷Cu, ⁶⁷Ga, ⁶⁷Ga, ⁷⁵Br, ⁷⁵Se, ⁷⁵Se, ⁷⁶Br, ⁷⁷As, ⁷⁷Br, ^(80m)Br, ⁸⁹Sr, ⁹⁰Y, ⁹⁵Ru, ⁹⁷Ru, ⁹⁹Mo, ^(99m)Tc, ^(103m)Rh, ¹⁰³Ru, ¹⁰⁵Rh, ¹⁰⁵Ru, ¹⁰⁷Hg, ¹⁰⁹Pd, ¹⁰⁹Pt, ¹¹¹Ag, ¹¹¹In, ^(113m)In, ¹¹⁹Sb, ^(121m)Te, ^(122m)Te, ¹²⁵I, ^(125m)Te, ¹²⁶I, ¹³¹I, ¹³³I, ¹⁴²Pr, ¹⁴³Pr, ¹⁴⁹Pm, ¹⁵²Dy, ¹⁵³Sm, ¹⁶¹Ho, ¹⁶¹Tb, ¹⁶⁵Tm, ¹⁶⁶Dy, ¹⁶⁶Ho, ¹⁶⁷Tm, ¹⁶⁸Tm, ¹⁶⁹Er, ¹⁶⁹Yb, ¹⁷⁷Lu, ¹⁸⁶Re, ¹⁸⁸Re, ^(189m)Os, ¹⁸⁹Re, ¹⁹²Ir, ¹⁹⁴Ir, ¹⁹⁷Pt, ¹⁹⁸Au, ¹⁹⁹Au, ²⁰¹Tl, ²⁰³Hg, ²¹¹At, ²¹¹Bi, ²¹¹Pb, ²¹²Bi, ²¹²Pb, ²¹³Bi, ²¹⁵Po, ²¹⁷At, ²¹⁹Rn, ²²¹Fr, ²²³Ra, ²²⁴Ac, ²²⁵Ac or ²⁵⁵Fm.

Also contemplated are multivalent, multispecific antibodies or fragments thereof comprising at least one binding site having an affinity toward a PAM4 target antigen and one or more hapten binding sites having affinity towards hapten molecules. Preferably, the antibody or fragment thereof is a chimeric, humanized or fully human antibody or fragment thereof. The hapten molecule may be conjugated to a targetable construct for delivery of one or more therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents. In certain preferred embodiments, the multivalent antibodies or fragments thereof may be prepared by the dock-and-lock (DNL) technique, as described in the Examples below. An exemplary DNL construct incorporating hPAM4 antibody fragments is designated TF10, as described below.

Also contemplated is a bispecific antibody or fragment thereof comprising at least one binding site with an affinity toward a PAM4 target antigen and at least one binding site with an affinity toward a targetable construct/conjugates selected from the group consisting of:

-   DOTA-D-Asp-D-Lys(HSG)-D-Asp-D-Lys(HSG)-NH₂ (IMP 271); -   DOTA-D-Glu-D-Lys(HSG)-D-Glu-D-Lys(HSG)-NH₂ (IMP 277); -   DOTA-D-Tyr-D-Lys(HSG)-D-Glu-D-Lys(HSG)-NH₂ (IMP 288); -   DOTA-D-Ala-D-Lys(HSG)-D-Glu-D-Lys(HSG)-NH₂ (IMP 0281); -   NOTA-ITC benzyl-D-Ala-D-Lys(HSG)-D-Tyr-D-Lys(HSG)-NH₂ (IMP 449); -   NODA-Ga-D-Ala-D-Lys(HSG)-D-Tyr-D-Lys(HSG)-NH₂ (IMP 460); -   NOTA-D-Ala-D-Lys(HSG)-D-Tyr-D-Lys(HSG)-NH₂ (IMP 461); -   NOTA-D-Asp-D-Lys(HSG)-D-Tyr-D-Lys(HSG)-NH₂ (IMP 462); -   NOTA-D-Ala-D-Lys(HSG)-D-Tyr-D-Lys(HSG)-NH₂ (IMP 465); -   C-NETA-succinyl-D-Lys(HSG)-D-Tyr-D-Lys(HSG)-NH₂ (IMP 467); -   S-NETA-D-Lys(HSG)-D-Tyr-D-Lys(HSG)-NH₂ (IMP 469); and -   L-NETA-succinyl-D-Lys(HSG)-D-Tyr-D-Lys(HSG)-NH₂ (IMP 470)     which is capable of carrying at least one diagnostic and/or     therapeutic agent. Other targetable constructs suitable for use are     disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,576,746; 6,962,702;     7,052,872; 7,138,103; 7,172,751; 7,405,320; 7,597,876; 7,563,433;     and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/343,655, filed Dec. 24,     2008, 12/433,212, filed Apr. 30, 2009, 12/485,998, filed Jun. 17,     2009, 12/541,527, filed Aug. 14, 2009 and 12/958,889, filed Dec. 1,     2010, the Examples section of each of which is incorporated herein     by reference.

Other embodiments concern fusion proteins comprising at least two anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies and fragments thereof as described herein. Alternatively, the fusion protein or fragment thereof may comprise at least one first anti-pancreatic cancer antibody or fragment thereof and at least one second MAb or fragment thereof. Preferably, the second MAb binds to a tumor-associated antigen, for example selected from the group consisting of CA19.9, DUPAN2, SPAN1, Nd2, B72.3, CC49, CEA (CEACAM5), CEACAM6, Le^(a), the Lewis antigen Le(y), CSAp, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), epithelial glycoprotein-1 (EGP-1), epithelial glycoprotein-2 (EGP-2), CD-80, placental growth factor (P1GF), carbonic anhydrase IX, tenascin, IL-6, HLA-DR, CD40, CD74 (e.g., milatuzumab), CD138 (syndecan-1), MUC-1, MUC-2, MUC-3, MUC-4, MUC-5ac, MUC-16, MUC-17, TAG-72, EGFR, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), angiogenesis factors (e.g., VEGF and P1GF), products of oncogenes (e.g., bcl-2, Kras, p53), cMET, HER2/neu, and antigens associated with gastric cancer and colorectal cancer. The antibody fusion protein or fragments thereof may further comprise at least one diagnostic and/or therapeutic agent.

Also described herein are DNA sequences comprising a nucleic acid encoding an anti-pancreatic cancer antibody, fusion protein, multispecific antibody, bispecific antibody or fragment thereof as described herein. Other embodiments concern expression vectors and/or host cells comprising the antibody-encoding DNA sequences. In certain preferred embodiments, the host cell may be an Sp2/0 cell line transformed with a mutant Bcl-2 gene, for example with a triple mutant Bcl-2 gene (T69E, S70E, S87E), that has been adapted to cell transformation and growth in serum free medium. (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,531,327; 7,537,930; and 7,608,425, the Examples section of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.)

Another embodiment concerns methods of delivering a diagnostic or therapeutic agent, or a combination thereof, to a target comprising (i) providing a composition that comprises an anti-pancreatic cancer antibody or fragment, such as a PAM4 antibody or fragment, conjugated to at least one diagnostic and/or therapeutic agent and (ii) administering to a subject in need thereof the diagnostic or therapeutic conjugate of any one of the antibodies, antibody fragments or fusion proteins claimed herein.

Also contemplated is a method of delivering a diagnostic agent, a therapeutic agent, or a combination thereof to a target, comprising: (a) administering to a subject any one of the multivalent, multispecific or bispecific antibodies or fragments thereof that have an affinity toward a PAM4 antigen and comprise one or more hapten binding sites; (b) waiting a sufficient amount of time for antibody that does not bind to the PAM4 antigen to clear the subject's blood stream; and (c) administering to said subject a carrier molecule comprising a diagnostic agent, a therapeutic agent, or a combination thereof, that binds to a binding site of the antibody. Preferably, the carrier molecule binds to more than one binding site of the antibody.

Described herein is a method for diagnosing or treating cancer, comprising: (a) administering to a subject any one of the multivalent, multispecific antibodies or fragments thereof claimed herein that have an affinity toward a PAM4 antigen and comprise one or more hapten binding sites; (b) waiting a sufficient amount of time for an amount of the non-bound antibody to clear the subject's blood stream; and (c) administering to said subject a carrier molecule comprising a diagnostic agent, a therapeutic agent, or a combination thereof, that binds to a binding site of the antibody. In a preferred embodiment the cancer is pancreatic cancer. Also preferred, the method can be used for intraoperative identification of diseased tissues, endoscopic identification of diseased tissues, or intravascular identification of diseased tissues.

Another embodiment is a method of treating a malignancy in a subject comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody or fragment thereof that binds to a PAM4 antigen, optionally conjugated to at least one therapeutic agent. The antibody or fragment thereof may alternatively be a naked antibody or fragment thereof. In more preferred embodiments, the antibody or fragment is administered either before, simultaneously with, or after administration of another therapeutic agent as described above.

Contemplated herein is a method of diagnosing a malignancy in a subject, particularly a pancreatic cancer, comprising (a) administering to said subject a diagnostic conjugate comprising an antibody or fragment thereof that binds to a PAM4 antigen, wherein said MAb or fragment thereof is conjugated to at least one diagnostic agent, and (b) detecting the presence of labeled antibody bound to pancreatic cancer cells or other malignant cells, wherein binding of the antibody is diagnostic for the presence of pancreatic cancer or another malignancy. In preferred embodiments, the antibody or fragment binds to pancreatic cancer and not to normal pancreatic tissue, pancreatitis or other non-malignant conditions. In less preferred embodiments, the antibody or fragment binds at a significantly higher level to cancer cells than to non-malignant cells, allowing differential diagnosis of cancer from non-malignant conditions. In a most preferred embodiment, the diagnostic agent may be an F-18 labeled molecule that is detected by PET imaging.

In more preferred embodiments, the use of anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies, such as the hPAM4 antibody, allows the detection and/or diagnosis of pancreatic cancer with high specificity and sensitivity at the earliest stages of malignant disease. Preferably, the diagnostic antibody or fragment is capable of labeling at least 70%, more preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, most preferably about 100% of well differentiated, moderately differentiated and poorly differentiated pancreatic cancer and 90% or more of invasive pancreatic adenocarcinomas. The anti-pancreatic cancer antibody of use is preferably capable of detecting 85% or more of PanIN-1A, PanIN-1B, PanIN-2, IPMN and MCN precursor lesions. Most preferably, immunoassays using the anti-pancreatic cancer antibody are capable of detecting 89% or more of total PanIN, 86% or more of IPMN, and 92% or more of MCN.

An alternative embodiment is a method of detecting PAM4 antigen and/or diagnosing pancreatic cancer in an individual by in vitro analysis of blood, plasma or serum samples. Preferably, the sample is subjected to an organic phase extraction, using an organic solvent such as butanol, before it is processed for immunodetection using an anti-pancreatic cancer antibody, such as a PAM4 antibody. Following organic phase extraction, the extracted aqueous phase is analyzed for the presence of PAM4 antigen in the sample, using any of a variety of immunoassay techniques known in the art, such as ELISA, sandwich immunoassay, solid phase RIA, and similar techniques. Surprisingly, the organic phase extraction results in the removal of an inhibitor of PAM4 binding to its target antigen, allowing detection of the PAM4 target antigen in fresh serum samples. More surprisingly, using the in vitro analysis techniques described herein, serum samples may be analyzed to detect and/or diagnose pancreatic cancer in a subject at the earliest stages of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. These unexpected results provide the first serum-based assay technique that is diagnostic for the presence of early stage pancreatic cancer.

Another embodiment is a method of treating a cancer cell in a subject comprising administering to said subject a composition comprising a naked antibody or fragment thereof or a naked antibody fusion protein or fragment thereof that binds to a PAM4 antigen. Preferably, the method further comprises administering a second naked antibody or fragment thereof selected from the group consisting of CA19.9, DUPAN2, SPAN1, Nd2, B72.3, CC49, anti-CEA, anti-CEACAM6, anti-EGP-1, anti-EGP-2, anti-Le^(a), antibodies defined by the Lewis antigen Le(y), and antibodies against CSAp, MUC-1, MUC-2, MUC-3, MUC-4, MUC-Sac, MUC-16, MUC-17, TAG-72, EGFR, CD40, HLA-DR, CD74, CD138, angiogenesis factors (e.g., VEGF and placenta-like growth factor (P1GF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), tenascin, platelet-derived growth factor, IL-6, products of oncogenes, cMET, and HER2/neu.

Still other embodiments concern a method of diagnosing a malignancy in a subject comprising (i) performing an in vitro diagnosis assay on a specimen from said subject with a composition comprising an antibody or fragment thereof that binds to a PAM4 antigen; and

(ii) detecting the presence of antibody or fragment bound to malignant cells in the specimen. Preferably, the malignancy is a cancer. Still preferred, the cancer is pancreatic cancer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Variable region cDNA sequences and the deduced amino acid sequences of the murine PAM4 antibody. FIG. 1A shows the DNA (SEQ ID NO:9) and amino acid (SEQ ID NO:10) sequences of the murine PAM4 Vk. FIG. 1B shows the DNA (SEQ ID NO:11) and amino acid (SEQ ID NO:12) sequences of the murine PAM4 V_(H). Amino acid sequences encoded by the corresponding DNA sequences are given as one-letter codes below the nucleotide sequence. Numbering of the nucleotide sequence is on the right side. The amino acid residues in the CDR regions are shown in bold and underlined. Kabat's Ig molecule numbering is used for amino acid residues as shown by the numbering above the amino acid residues. The amino acid residues numbered by a letter are the insertion residues defined by Kabat numbering scheme. The insertion residues have the same preceding digits as that of the previous residue. For example, residues 82, 82A, 82B, and 82C in FIG. 1B are indicated as 82, A, B, and C, respectively.

FIG. 2. Amino acid sequences of the chimeric PAM4 (cPAM4) heavy and light chain variable regions expressed in Sp2/0 cells. FIG. 2A shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:13) of the cPAM4 Vk. FIG. 2B shows the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:14) of the cPAM4 V_(H). The sequences are given as one letter codes. The amino acid residues in the CDR regions are shown in bold and underlined. The numbering of amino acids is the same as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3. Alignment of the amino acid sequences of heavy and light chain variable regions of a human antibody, PAM4 and hPAM4. FIG. 3A shows the V_(K) amino acid sequence alignment of the human antibody Walker (SEQ ID NO:15) with PAM4 (SEQ ID NO:10) and hPAM4 (SEQ ID NO:16), and FIG. 3B shows the V_(H) amino acid sequence alignment of the human antibody Wil2 (FR1-3) (SEQ ID NO:17) and NEWM (FR4) (SEQ ID NO:18) with PAM4 (SEQ ID NO:12) and hPAM4 (SEQ ID NO:19). Dots indicate the residues of PAM4 that are identical to the corresponding residues of the human or humanized antibodies. Boxed regions represent the CDR regions. Both N- and C-terminal residues (underlined) of hPAM4 are fixed by the staging vectors used. Kabat's Ig molecule number scheme is used to number the residues as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4. DNA and amino acid sequences of the humanized PAM4 (hPAM4) heavy and light chain variable regions expressed in Sp2/0 cells. FIG. 4A shows the DNA (SEQ ID NO:20) and amino acid (SEQ ID NO:16) sequences of the hPAM4 V_(K) and FIG. 4B shows the DNA (SEQ ID NO:21) and amino acid (SEQ ID NO:19) sequences of the hPAM4 V_(H). Numbering of the nucleotide sequence is on the right side. Amino acid sequences encoded by the corresponding DNA sequences are given as one-letter codes. The amino acid residues in the CDR regions are shown in bold and underlined. Kabat's Ig molecule numbering scheme is used for amino acid residues as in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.

FIG. 5. Binding activity of humanized PAM4 antibody, hPAM4, as compared to the chimeric PAM4, cPAM4. hPAM4 is shown by diamonds and cPAM4 is shown by closed circles. Results indicate comparable binding activity of the hPAM4 antibody and cPAM4 when competing with ¹²⁵I-cPAM4 binding to CaPan1 antigens.

FIG. 6. PET/CT fusion images for a patient with inoperable metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with fractionated ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 plus gemcitabine, before therapy (left side) and post-therapy (right side). The circle indicates the location of the primary lesion, which shows a significant decrease in PET/CT intensity following therapy.

FIG. 7. 3D PET images for a patient with inoperable metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with fractionated ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 plus gemcitabine, before therapy (left side) and post-therapy (right side). Arrows point to the locations of the primary lesion (on right) and metastases (on left), each of which shows a significant decrease in PET image intensity after therapy with radiolabeled hPAM4 plus gemcitabine.

FIG. 8. In vivo imaging of tumors using an ¹¹¹In-labeled diHSG peptide (IMP 288) with or without pretargeting TF10 bispecific anti-pancreatic cancer mucin antibody. FIG. 8A—mice showing location of tumors (arrow). FIG. 8B shows the detected tumors with ¹¹¹In-labeled IMP 288 in the presence (above) or absence (below) of TF10 bispecific antibody.

FIG. 9. Exemplary binding curves for TF10, PAM4-IgG, PAM4-F(ab′)₂ and a monovalent bsPAM4 chemical conjugate (PAM4-Fab′ x anti-DTPA-Fab′). Binding to target mucin antigen was measured by ELISA assay.

FIG. 10. Immunoscintigraphy of CaPan1 human pancreatic cancer xenografts (˜0.25 g). (A) An image of mice that were injected with bispecific TF10 (80 μg, 5.07×10⁻¹⁰ mol) followed 16 h later by administration of ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 (30 μCi, 5.07×10⁻¹¹ mol). The image was taken 3 h later. The intensity of the image background was increased to match the intensity of the image obtained when ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 was administered alone (30 μCi, 5.07×10⁻¹¹ mol). (B) No targeting was observed in mice given ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 alone. (C) An image of mice that were given ¹¹¹In-DOTA-PAM4-IgG (20 μCi, 50 μg) with imaging done 24 h later. Although tumors are visible, considerable background activity is still present at this time point.

FIG. 11. Extended biodistribution of ¹¹¹In-DOTA-PAM4-IgG (20 μCi, 50 μg) and TF10-pretargeted ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 (80 μg, 5.07×10⁻¹⁰ mol TF10 followed 16 h later with 30 μCi, 5.07×10⁻¹¹ mol ¹¹¹In-IMP-288) in nude mice bearing CaPan1 human pancreatic cancer xenografts (mean tumor weight+/−SD, 0.28+/−0.21 and 0.10+/−0.06 g for the pretargeting and IgG groups of animals, respectively)

FIG. 12. Therapeutic activity of a single treatment of established (˜0.4 cm³) CaPan1 tumors with 0.15 mCi of ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 IgG, or 0.25 or 0.50 mCi of TF10-pretargeted ⁹⁰Y-IMP-288.

FIG. 13. Effect of gemcitabine potentiation of PT-RAIT therapy.

FIG. 14. Effect of combination of cetuximab with gemcitabine and PT-RAIT.

FIG. 15. Differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer using PAM4-based immunoassay. The red line shows the cutoff level selected for a positive result, based on ROC analysis.

FIG. 16. Frequency distribution of PAM4 antigen in patient sera from healthy volunteers and individuals with varying stages of pancreatic cancer.

FIG. 17. ROC curve for PAM4 serum immunoassay.

FIG. 18. Accuracy of the PAM4-immunoassay was determined to be within 10% of the nominal concentrations examined at or above the cutoff value of 2.40 units/mL. A linear trend was calculated with an equation of y=0.965x+0.174, and goodness of fit r²=0.999.

FIG. 19. Frequency distribution of PAM4-reactive antigen in patient sera by stage of disease. Cutoff value=2.4 units/mL (red line). The median values (units/mL) are shown for each study group.

FIG. 20. Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC) curve for the performance of the PAM4-based immunoassay; pancreatic adenocarcinoma vs. healthy adults. Values for the area under the curves (AUC) and 95% confidence limits are provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Definitions

Unless otherwise specified, “a” or “an” means one or more.

As used herein, “about” means plus or minus 10%. For example, “about 100” would include any number between 90 and 110.

As described herein, the term “PAM4 antibody” includes murine, chimeric, humanized and human PAM4 antibodies. In preferred embodiments, the PAM4 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises the CDR sequences of SEQ ID NO:1 to SEQ ID NO:6.

As used herein, a “PAM4 antigen” is an antigen bound by a PAM4 antibody. In preferred embodiments, treatment of PAM4 antigen with DTT or periodate inhibits or prevents binding of the PAM4 antibody. In more preferred embodiments, the PAM4 antigen is an epitope of a mucin expressed by a pancreatic cancer cell, such as MUC-1 or MUC-5.

As used herein, an “anti-pancreatic cancer antibody” is an antibody that exhibits the same diagnostic, therapeutic and binding characteristics as the PAM4 antibody. In preferred embodiments, the “anti-pancreatic cancer antibody” binds to the same epitope as the PAM4 antibody.

A “non-endocrine pancreatic cancer” generally refers to cancers arising from the exocrine pancreatic glands. The term excludes pancreatic insulinomas and includes pancreatic carcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and giant cell carcinoma and precursor lesions such as pancreatic intra-epithelial neoplasia (PanIN), mucinous cyst neoplasms (MCN) and intrapancreatic mucinous neoplasms (IPMN), which are neoplastic but not yet malignant. The terms “pancreatic cancer” and “non-endocrine pancreatic cancer” are used interchangeably herein.

An antibody, as described herein, refers to a full-length (i.e., naturally occurring or formed by normal immunoglobulin gene fragment recombinatorial processes) immunoglobulin molecule (e.g., an IgG antibody) or an immunologically active (i.e., specifically binding) portion of an immunoglobulin molecule, like an antibody fragment.

An antibody fragment is a portion of an antibody such as F(ab)₂, Fab′, Fab, Fv, sFv and the like. Regardless of structure, an antibody fragment binds with the same antigen that is recognized by the full-length antibody. The term “antibody fragment” also includes isolated fragments consisting of the variable regions of antibodies, such as the “Fv” fragments consisting of the variable regions of the heavy and light chains and recombinant single chain polypeptide molecules in which light and heavy variable regions are connected by a peptide linker (“scFv proteins”).

A naked antibody is an antibody or fragment thereof that is not conjugated to a therapeutic or diagnostic agent. Generally, the Fc portion of the antibody molecule provides effector functions, such as complement-mediated cytotoxicity (CDC) and ADCC (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity), which set mechanisms into action that may result in cell lysis. However, the Fc portion may not be required for therapeutic function, with other mechanisms, such as signaling-induced apoptosis, coming into play. Naked antibodies include both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, as well as fusion proteins and certain recombinant antibodies, such as chimeric, humanized or human antibodies.

A chimeric antibody is a recombinant protein that contains the variable domains including the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of an antibody derived from one species, preferably a rodent antibody, while the constant domains of the antibody molecule are derived from those of a human antibody. For veterinary applications, the constant domains of the chimeric antibody may be derived from that of other species, such as a cat or dog.

A humanized antibody is a recombinant protein in which the CDRs from an antibody from one species; e.g., a rodent antibody, are transferred from the heavy and light variable chains of the rodent antibody into human heavy and light variable domains (e.g., framework region sequences). The constant domains of the antibody molecule are derived from those of a human antibody. In certain embodiments, a limited number of framework region amino acid residues from the parent (rodent) antibody may be substituted into the human antibody framework region sequences.

A human antibody is, e.g., an antibody obtained from transgenic mice that have been “engineered” to produce specific human antibodies in response to antigenic challenge. In this technique, elements of the human heavy and light chain loci are introduced into strains of mice derived from embryonic stem cell lines that contain targeted disruptions of the endogenous murine heavy chain and light chain loci. The transgenic mice can synthesize human antibodies specific for particular antigens, and the mice can be used to produce human antibody-secreting hybridomas. Methods for obtaining human antibodies from transgenic mice are described by Green et al., Nature Genet. 7:13 (1994), Lonberg et al., Nature 368:856 (1994), and Taylor et al., Int. Immun. 6:579 (1994). A fully human antibody also can be constructed by genetic or chromosomal transfection methods, as well as phage display technology, all of which are known in the art. See for example, McCafferty et al., Nature 348:552-553 (1990) for the production of human antibodies and fragments thereof in vitro, from immunoglobulin variable domain gene repertoires from unimmunized donors. In this technique, antibody variable domain genes are cloned in-frame into either a major or minor coat protein gene of a filamentous bacteriophage, and displayed as functional antibody fragments on the surface of the phage particle. Because the filamentous particle contains a single-stranded DNA copy of the phage genome, selections based on the functional properties of the antibody also result in selection of the gene encoding the antibody exhibiting those properties. In this way, the phage mimics some of the properties of the B cell. Phage display can be performed in a variety of formats, for review, see e.g. Johnson and Chiswell, Current Opinion in Structural Biology 3:5564-571 (1993). Human antibodies may also be generated by in vitro activated B cells. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,567,610 and 5,229,275, the Examples sections of which are incorporated herein by reference.

A therapeutic agent is a compound, molecule or atom which is administered separately, concurrently or sequentially with an antibody moiety or conjugated to an antibody moiety, i.e., antibody or antibody fragment, or a subfragment, and is useful in the treatment of a disease. Examples of therapeutic agents include antibodies, antibody fragments, cytotoxic agents, drugs, toxins, nucleases, hormones, immunomodulators, pro-apoptotic agents, anti-angiogenic agents, boron compounds, photoactive agents or dyes and radioisotopes. Therapeutic agents of use are described in more detail below.

A diagnostic agent is a molecule, atom or other detectable moiety which may be administered conjugated to an antibody moiety or targetable construct and is useful in detecting or diagnosing a disease by locating cells containing the target antigen. Useful diagnostic agents include, but are not limited to, radioisotopes, dyes, contrast agents, fluorescent compounds or molecules and enhancing agents (e.g., paramagnetic ions) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET) scanning. Preferably, the diagnostic agents are selected from the group consisting of radioisotopes, enhancing agents for use in magnetic resonance or PET imaging, and fluorescent compounds. In order to load an antibody component with radioactive metals, paramagnetic ions or other diagnostic cations, it may be necessary to react it with a reagent having a long tail to which are attached a multiplicity of chelating groups for binding the ions. Such a tail can be a polymer such as a polylysine, polysaccharide, or other derivatized or derivatizable chain having pendant groups to which can be bound chelating groups such as, e.g., ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), DOTA, NOTA, NETA, porphyrins, polyamines, crown ethers, bis-thiosemicarbazones, polyoximes, and like groups known to be useful for this purpose. Chelates are coupled to the antibodies using standard chemistries. The chelate is normally linked to the antibody by a group which enables formation of a bond to the molecule with minimal loss of immunoreactivity and minimal aggregation and/or internal cross-linking. Other, more unusual, methods and reagents for conjugating chelates to antibodies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,659, the Examples section of which is incorporated herein by reference. Particularly useful metal-chelate combinations include 2-benzyl-DTPA and its monomethyl and cyclohexyl analogs, used with diagnostic isotopes in the general energy range of 60 to 4,000 keV, such as ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, ¹²³I, ¹²⁴I, ⁶²Cu, ⁶⁴Cu, ¹⁸F, ¹¹¹In, ⁶⁷Ga, ⁶⁸Ga, ^(99m)Tc, ¹¹C, ¹³N, ¹⁵O, ⁷⁶Br, for radioimaging. The same chelates, when complexed with non-radioactive metals, such as manganese, iron and gadolinium are useful for MRI, when used along with the antibodies of the invention. Macrocyclic chelates such as NOTA (1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid), DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecanetetraacetic acid), and TETA (p-bromoacetamido-benzyl-tetraethylaminetetraacetic acid) are of use with a variety of metals and radiometals, most particularly with radionuclides of gallium, yttrium and copper, respectively. Such metal-chelate complexes can be made very stable by tailoring the ring size to the metal of interest. Other ring-type chelates such as macrocyclic polyethers, which are of interest for stably binding nuclides, such as ²²³Ra for radioimmunotherapy (RAIT) are encompassed by the invention. More recently, techniques of general utility for labeling virtually any molecule with an ¹⁸F atom of use in PET imaging have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,563,433, the Examples section of which is incorporated herein by reference.

An immunoconjugate is an antibody, antibody fragment or antibody fusion protein conjugated to at least one therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent. The diagnostic agent and/or therapeutic agent are as defined above.

An expression vector is a DNA molecule comprising a gene that is expressed in a host cell. Typically, gene expression is placed under the control of certain regulatory elements, including constitutive or inducible promoters, tissue-specific regulatory elements and enhancers. Such a gene is said to be “operably linked to” the regulatory elements.

A recombinant host may be any prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell that contains either a cloning vector or expression vector. This term also includes those prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells, as well as transgenic animals, that have been genetically engineered to contain the cloned gene(s) in the chromosome or genome of the host cell. Suitable mammalian host cells include myeloma cells, such as SP2/0 cells, and NS0 cells, as well as Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, hybridoma cell lines and other mammalian host cell useful for expressing antibodies. Also particularly useful to express mAbs and other fusion proteins are Sp2/0 cells transfected with an apoptosis inhibitor, such as a Bel-EEE gene, and adapted to grow and be further transfected in serum free conditions, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,531,327; 7,537,930; and 7,608,425, the Examples section of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

PAM4 Antibodies

Various embodiments of the invention concern antibodies that react with very high selectivity with pancreatic cancer as opposed to normal or benign pancreatic tissues. The anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies and fragments thereof are preferably raised against a crude mucin preparation from a tumor of the human pancreas, although partially purified or even purified mucins may be utilized. A non-limiting example of such antibodies is the PAM4 antibody.

The murine PAM4 (mPAM4) antibody was developed by employing pancreatic cancer mucin derived from the xenografted RIP-1 human pancreatic carcinoma as immunogen. (Gold et al., Int. J. Cancer, 57:204-210, 1994.) As discussed below, antibody cross-reactivity and immunohistochemical staining studies indicate that the PAM4 antibody recognizes a unique and novel epitope on a target pancreatic cancer antigen. Immunohistochemical staining studies, such as those described in Example 2, have shown that the PAM4 MAb binds to an antigen expressed by breast, pancreas and other cancer cells, with limited binding to normal human tissue; however, the highest expression is usually by pancreatic cancer cells. Thus, the PAM4 antibodies are relatively specific to pancreatic cancer and preferentially bind pancreatic cancer cells. The PAM4 antibody is reactive with a target epitope which can be internalized. This epitope is expressed primarily by antigens associated with pancreatic cancer and not with focal pancreatitis or normal pancreatic tissue. Binding of PAM4 antibody to the PAM4 epitope is inhibited by treatment of the antigen with DIT or periodate. Localization and therapy studies using a radiolabeled PAM4 MAb in animal models have demonstrated tumor targeting and therapeutic efficacy.

The PAM4 antibodies bind to PAM4 antigen, which is expressed by many organs and tumor types, but is preferentially expressed in pancreatic cancer cells. Studies with a PAM4 MAb, such as in Example 3, indicate that the antibody exhibits several important properties, which make it a good candidate for clinical diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The PAM4 antigen provides a useful target for diagnosis and therapy of pancreatic and other cancers. The PAM4 antibody apparently recognizes an epitope of a pancreatic cancer antigen that is distinct from the epitopes recognized by non-PAM4 anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies (CA19.9, DUPAN2, SPAN1, Nd2, CEACAM5, B72.3, anti-Le^(a), and other anti-Lewis antigens).

Surprisingly, the Examples below indicate that the PAM4 antigen is present in detectable concentrations in serum of patients with very early stage pancreatic cancer. Also surprisingly, it appears that an endogenous inhibitor of PAM4 antibody binding to the PAM4 antigen is present in fresh human serum. The inhibitor is removed by long-term frozen storage of serum samples, or by organic phase extraction of fresh serum. These unexpected results provide the basis of a relatively non-invasive, early detection test for pancreatic cancer, using blood, serum or plasma samples.

For therapeutic use, antibodies suitable for use in combination or conjunction with PAM4 antibodies include, for example, the antibodies CA19.9, DUPAN2, SPAN1, Nd2, B72.3, CC49, anti-CEA, anti-CEACAM6, anti-Le^(a), anti-HLA-DR, anti-CD40, anti-CD74, anti-CD138, and antibodies defined by the Lewis antigen Le(y), or antibodies against colon-specific antigen-p (CSAp), MUC-1, MUC-2, MUC-3, MUC-4, MUC-5ac, MUC-16, MUC-17, EGP-1, EGP-2, HER2/neu, EGFR, angiogenesis factors (e.g., VEGF and P1GF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), tenascin, platelet-derived growth factor, and IL-6, as well as products of oncogenes (bc1-2, Kras, p53), cMET, and antibodies against tumor necrosis substances, such as described in patents by Epstein et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,071,491, 6,017,514, 5,019,368 and 5,882,626). Such antibodies would be useful for complementing PAM4 antibody immunodetection and immunotherapy methods. These and other therapeutic agents could act synergistically with anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies, such as PAM4 antibody, when administered before, together with or after administration of PAM4 antibody.

In therapeutic applications, antibodies that are agonistic or antagonistic to immunomodulators involved in effector cell function against tumor cells could also be useful in combination with PAM4 antibodies alone or in combination with other tumor-associated antibodies, one example being antibodies against CD40. Todryk et al., J. Immunol. Methods, 248:139-147 (2001); Turner et al., J. Immunol, 166:89-94 (2001). Also of use are antibodies against markers or products of oncogenes (e.g., bc1-2, Kras, p53, cMET), or antibodies against angiogenesis factors, such as VEGFR and placenta-like growth factor (P1GF).

The availability of another PAM4-like antibody that binds to a different epitope of the PAM4 antigen is important for the development of a double-determinant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), of use for detecting a PAM4 antigen in clinical samples. ELISA experiments are described in Example 1 and 5.

The murine, chimeric, humanized and fully human PAM4 antibodies and fragments thereof described herein are exemplary of anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies of use for diagnostic and/or therapeutic methods. The Examples below disclose a preferred embodiment of the construction and use of a humanized PMA4 antibody. Because non-human monoclonal antibodies can be recognized by the human host as a foreign protein, and repeated injections can lead to harmful hypersensitivity reactions, humanization of a murine antibody sequences can reduce the adverse immune response that patients may experience. For murine-based monoclonal antibodies, this is often referred to as a Human Anti-Mouse Antibody (HAMA) response. Preferably some human residues in the framework regions of the humanized anti-pancreatic cancer antibody or fragments thereof are replaced by their murine counterparts. It is also preferred that a combination of framework sequences from two different human antibodies is used for V_(H). The constant domains of the antibody molecule are derived from those of a human antibody.

Antibody Preparation

Monoclonal antibodies for specific antigens may be obtained by methods known to those skilled in the art. See, for example, Kohler and Milstein, Nature 256: 495 (1975), and Coligan et al. (eds.), CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN IMMUNOLOGY, VOL. 1, pages 2.5.1-2.6.7 (John Wiley & Sons 1991) (hereinafter “Coligan”). Briefly, anti-pancreatic cancer MAbs can be obtained by injecting mice with a composition comprising mucins from pancreatic cancer, such as the PAM4 antigen, verifying the presence of antibody production by removing a serum sample, removing the spleen to obtain B-lymphocytes, fusing the B-lymphocytes with myeloma cells to produce hybridomas, cloning the hybridomas, selecting positive clones which produce antibodies to PAM4 antigen, culturing the clones that produce antibodies to PAM4 antigen, and isolating anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies from the hybridoma cultures.

After the initial raising of antibodies to the immunogen, the antibodies can be sequenced and subsequently prepared by recombinant techniques to produce chimeric or humanized antibodies. Chimerization of murine antibodies and antibody fragments are well known to those skilled in the art. The use of antibody components derived from chimerized monoclonal antibodies reduces potential problems associated with the immunogenicity of murine constant regions.

General techniques for cloning murine immunoglobulin variable domains are described, for example, by the publication of Orlandi et al., Proc Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 86: 3833 (1989), incorporated herein by reference. In general, the V_(K) (variable light chain) and V_(H) (variable heavy chain) sequences for murine antibodies can be obtained by a variety of molecular cloning procedures, such as RT-PCR, 5′-RACE, and cDNA library screening. Specifically, the V_(H) and V_(K) sequences of the murine PAM4 MAb were cloned by PCR amplification from the hybridoma cells by RT-PCR, and their sequences determined by DNA sequencing. To confirm their authenticity, the cloned V_(K) and V_(H) genes can be expressed in cell culture as a chimeric Ab as described by Orlandi et al., (Proc Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 86: 3833, 1989).

In a preferred embodiment, a chimerized PAM4 antibody or antibody fragment comprises the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) and framework regions (FR) of a murine PAM4 MAb and the light and heavy chain constant regions of a human antibody, wherein the CDRs of the light chain variable region of the chimerized PAM4 comprises CDR1 comprising an amino acid sequence of SASSSVSSSYLY (SEQ ID NO:1); CDR2 comprising an amino acid sequence of STSNLAS (SEQ ID NO:2); and CDR3 comprising an amino acid sequence of HQWNRYPYT (SEQ ID NO:3); and the CDRs of the heavy chain variable region of the chimerized PAM4 MAb comprises CDR1 comprising an amino acid sequence of SYVLH (SEQ ID NO:4); CDR2 comprising an amino acid sequence of YINPYNDGTQYNEKFKG (SEQ ID NO:5) and CDR3 comprising an amino acid sequence of GFGGSYGFAY (SEQ ID NO:6). The use of antibody components derived from chimerized monoclonal antibodies reduces potential problems associated with the immunogenicity of murine constant regions.

Humanization of murine antibodies and antibody fragments is also well known to those skilled in the art. Techniques for producing humanized MAbs are disclosed, for example, by Carter et al., Proc Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 89: 4285 (1992), Singer et al., J. Immun. 150: 2844 (1992), Mountain et al. Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev. 10:1 (1992), and Coligan at pages 10.19.1-10.19.11, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, humanized monoclonal antibodies may be produced by transferring murine complementary determining regions from heavy and light variable chains of the mouse immunoglobulin into a human variable domain, and then, substituting human residues in the framework regions of the murine counterparts. The use of human framework region sequences, in addition to human constant region sequences, further reduces the chance of inducing HAMA reactions.

Based on the PAM4 variable region sequences, obtained as described above, a humanized PAM4 antibody can be designed and constructed as described by Leung et al. (Mol. Immunol. 32: 1413 (1995)), incorporated herein by reference. Example 1 describes the humanization process utilized for construction of the hPAM4 MAb.

The nucleotide sequences of the primers used to prepare the hPAM4 antibodies are discussed in Example 1, below. In a preferred embodiment, a humanized PAM4 antibody or antibody fragment comprises the light and heavy chain CDR sequences (SEQ ID NO:1 to SEQ ID NO:6) disclosed above. Also preferred, the FRs of the light and heavy chain variable regions of the humanized antibody comprise at least one amino acid substituted from said corresponding FRs of the murine PAM4 MAb.

A fully human antibody, e.g., human PAM4 can be obtained from a transgenic non-human animal. See, e.g., Mendez et al., Nature Genetics, 15: 146-156 (1997); U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,425. For example, a human antibody can be recovered from a transgenic mouse possessing human immunoglobulin loci. The mouse humoral immune system is humanized by inactivating the endogenous immunoglobulin genes and introducing human immunoglobulin loci. The human immunoglobulin loci are exceedingly complex and comprise a large number of discrete segments which together occupy almost 0.2% of the human genome. To ensure that transgenic mice are capable of producing adequate repertoires of antibodies, large portions of human heavy- and light-chain loci must be introduced into the mouse genome. This is accomplished in a stepwise process beginning with the formation of yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) containing either human heavy- or light-chain immunoglobulin loci in germline configuration. Since each insert is approximately 1 Mb in size, YAC construction requires homologous recombination of overlapping fragments of the immunoglobulin loci. The two YACs, one containing the heavy-chain loci and one containing the light-chain loci, are introduced separately into mice via fusion of YAC-containing yeast spheroblasts with mouse embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cell clones are then microinjected into mouse blastocysts. Resulting chimeric males are screened for their ability to transmit the YAC through their germline and are bred with mice deficient in murine antibody production. Breeding the two transgenic strains, one containing the human heavy-chain loci and the other containing the human light-chain loci, creates progeny which produce human antibodies in response to immunization. However, these techniques are not limiting and other methods known in the art for producing human antibodies, such as the use of phage display, may also be utilized to produce human anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies.

Antibodies can be produced by cell culture techniques using methods known in the art. In one example transfectoma cultures are adapted to serum-free medium. For production of humanized antibody, cells may be grown as a 500 ml culture in roller bottles using HSFM. Cultures are centrifuged and the supernatant filtered through a 0.2 μm membrane. The filtered medium is passed through a protein-A column (1×3 cm) at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The resin is then washed with about 10 column volumes of PBS and protein A-bound antibody is eluted from the column with 0.1 M glycine buffer (pH 3.5) containing 10 mM EDTA. Fractions of 1.0 ml are collected in tubes containing 10 μl of 3 M Tris (pH 8.6), and protein concentrations determined from the absorbance at 280/260 nm. Peak fractions are pooled, dialyzed against PBS, and the antibody concentrated, for example, with a Centricon 30 filter (Amicon, Beverly, Mass.). The antibody concentration is determined by ELISA and its concentration adjusted to about 1 mg/ml using PBS. Sodium azide, 0.01% (w/v), is conveniently added to the sample as preservative.

Antibodies can be isolated and purified from hybridoma cultures by a variety of well-established techniques. Such isolation techniques include affinity chromatography with Protein-A Sepharose, size-exclusion chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography. See, for example, Coligan at pages 2.7.1-2.7.12 and pages 2.9.1-2.9.3. Also, see Baines et al., “Purification of Immunoglobulin G (IgG),” in METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, VOL. 10, pages 79-104 (The Humana Press, Inc. 1992).

Anti-pancreatic cancer MAbs can be characterized by a variety of techniques that are well-known to those of skill in the art. For example, the ability of an antibody to bind to the PAM4 antigen can be verified using an indirect enzyme immunoassay, flow cytometry analysis, ELISA or Western blot analysis.

Antibody Fragments

Antibody fragments are antigen binding portions of an antibody, such as F(ab′)₂, Fab′, F(ab)₂, Fab, Fv, sFv, scFv and the like. Antibody fragments which recognize specific epitopes can be generated by known techniques. F(ab)₂ fragments, for example, can be produced by pepsin digestion of the antibody molecule. These and other methods are described, for example, by Goldenberg, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,036,945 and 4,331,647 and references contained therein. Also, see Nisonoff et al., Arch Biochem. Biophys. 89: 230 (1960); Porter, Biochem. J. 73: 119 (1959), Edelman et al., in METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY VOL. 1, page 422 (Academic Press 1967), and Coligan at pages 2.8.1-2.8.10 and 2.10.-2.10.4. Alternatively, Fab′ expression libraries can be constructed (Huse et al., 1989, Science, 246:1274-1281) to allow rapid and easy identification of monoclonal Fab′ fragments with the desired specificity.

A single chain Fv molecule (scFv) comprises a V_(L) domain and a V_(H) domain. The V_(L) and V_(H) domains associate to form a target binding site. These two domains are further covalently linked by a peptide linker (L). A scFv molecule is denoted as either V_(L)-L-V_(H) if the V_(L) domain is the N-terminal part of the scFv molecule, or as V_(H)-L-V_(L) if the V_(H) domain is the N-terminal part of the scFv molecule. Methods for making scFv molecules and designing suitable peptide linkers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,704,692, 4,946,778, R. Raag and M. Whitlow, “Single Chain Fvs.” FASEB Vol 9:73-80 (1995) and R. E. Bird and B. W. Walker, Single Chain Antibody Variable Regions, TIBTECH, Vol 9: 132-137 (1991).

Other antibody fragments, for example single domain antibody fragments, are known in the art and may be used in the claimed constructs. Single domain antibodies (VHH) may be obtained, for example, from camels, alpacas or llamas by standard immunization techniques. (See, e.g., Muyldermans et al., TIBS 26:230-235, 2001; Yau et al., J Immunol Methods 281:161-75, 2003; Maass et al., J Immunol Methods 324:13-25, 2007). The VHH may have potent antigen-binding capacity and can interact with novel epitopes that are inaccessible to conventional V_(H)-V_(L) pairs. (Muyldermans et al., 2001). Alpaca serum IgG contains about 50% camelid heavy chain only IgG antibodies (HCAbs) (Maass et al., 2007). Alpacas may be immunized with known antigens, such as TNF-α, and VHHs can be isolated that bind to and neutralize the target antigen (Maass et al., 2007). PCR primers that amplify virtually all alpaca VHH coding sequences have been identified and may be used to construct alpaca VHH phage display libraries, which can be used for antibody fragment isolation by standard biopanning techniques well known in the art (Maass et al., 2007).

An antibody fragment can also be prepared by proteolytic hydrolysis of a full-length antibody or by expression in E. coli or another host of the DNA coding for the fragment. An antibody fragment can be obtained by pepsin or papain digestion of full-length antibodies by conventional methods. For example, an antibody fragment can be produced by enzymatic cleavage of antibodies with pepsin to provide an approximate 100 Kd fragment denoted F(ab')₂. This fragment can be further cleaved using a thiol reducing agent, and optionally a blocking group for the sulthydryl groups resulting from cleavage of disulfide linkages, to produce an approximate 50 Kd Fab′ monovalent fragment. Alternatively, an enzymatic cleavage using papain produces two monovalent Fab fragments and an Fc fragment directly.

Other methods of cleaving antibodies, such as separation of heavy chains to form monovalent light-heavy chain fragments, further cleavage of fragments, or other enzymatic, chemical or genetic techniques may also be used, so long as the fragments bind to the antigen that is recognized by the intact antibody.

Antibody Fusion Proteins and Multivalent Antibodies

Fusion proteins comprising the anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies of interest can be prepared by a variety of conventional procedures, ranging from glutaraldehyde linkage to more specific linkages between functional groups. The antibodies and/or antibody fragments that comprise the fusion proteins described herein are preferably covalently bound to one another, directly or through a linker moiety, through one or more functional groups on the antibody or fragment, e.g., amine, carboxyl, phenyl, thiol, or hydroxyl groups. Various conventional linkers in addition to glutaraldehyde can be used, e.g., diisocyanates, diiosothiocyanates, bis(hydroxysuccinimide)esters, carbodiimides, maleimidehydroxy succinimide esters, and the like.

A simple method for producing fusion proteins is to mix the antibodies or fragments in the presence of glutaraldehyde. The initial Schiff base linkages can be stabilized, e.g., by borohydride reduction to secondary amines. A diiosothiocyanate or carbodiimide can be used in place of glutaraldehyde as a non-site-specific linker. In one embodiment, an antibody fusion protein comprises an anti-pancreatic cancer MAb, or fragment thereof, wherein the MAb binds to the PAM4 antigen. This fusion protein and fragments thereof preferentially bind pancreatic cancer cells. This monovalent, monospecific MAb is useful for direct targeting of an antigen, where the MAb is attached to a therapeutic agent, a diagnostic agent, or a combination thereof, and the protein is administered directly to a patient.

The fusion proteins may instead comprise at least two anti-pancreatic cancer MAbs that bind to distinct epitopes of the PAM4 antigen. For example, the MAbs can produce antigen specific diabodies, triabodies and tetrabodies, which are multivalent but monospecific to the PAM4 antigen. The non-covalent association of two or more scFv molecules can form functional diabodies, triabodies and tetrabodies. Monospecific diabodies are homodimers of the same scFv, where each scFv comprises the V_(H) domain from the selected antibody connected by a short linker to the V_(L) domain of the same antibody. A diabody is a bivalent dimer formed by the non-covalent association of two scFvs, yielding two Fv binding sites. A triabody results from the formation of a trivalent trimer of three scFvs, yielding three binding sites, and a tetrabody is a tetravalent tetramer of four scFvs, resulting in four binding sites. Several monospecific diabodies have been made using an expression vector that contains a recombinant gene construct comprising V_(H)1-linker-V_(L)1. See Holliger et al., Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 6444-6448 (1993); Atwell et al., Molecular Immunology 33: 1301-1302 (1996); Holliger et al., Nature Biotechnology 15: 632-631 (1997); Helfrich et al., Int J Cancer 76: 232-239 (1998); Kipriyanov et al., Int J Cancer 77: 763-772 (1998); Holiger et al., Cancer

Research 59: 2909-2916 (1999)). Methods of constructing scFvs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778 (1990) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,405 (1992), the Examples section of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Methods of producing multivalent, monospecific antibodies based on scFv are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,242 (1998), U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,094 (1998) and WO-98/44001 (1998), the Examples section of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The multivalent, monospecific antibody fusion protein binds to two or more of the same type of epitopes that can be situated on the same antigen or on separate antigens. The increased valency allows for additional interaction, increased affinity, and longer residence times. These antibody fusion proteins can be utilized in direct targeting systems, where the antibody fusion protein is conjugated to a therapeutic agent, a diagnostic agent, or a combination thereof, and administered directly to a patient in need thereof.

A preferred embodiment is a multivalent, multispecific antibody or fragment thereof comprising one or more antigen binding sites having an affinity toward a PAM4 target epitope and one or more additional binding sites for other epitopes associated with pancreatic cancer. This fusion protein is multispecific because it binds at least two different epitopes, which can reside on the same or different antigens. For example, the fusion protein may comprise more than one antigen binding site, the first with an affinity toward a PAM4 antigen epitope and the second with an affinity toward another target antigen such as TAG-72 or CEA. Another example is a bispecific antibody fusion protein which may comprise a CA19.9 MAb (or fragment thereof) and a PAM4 MAb (or fragment thereof). Such a fusion protein will have an affinity toward CA19.9 as well as the PAM4 antigen. The antibody fusion proteins and fragments thereof can be utilized in direct targeting systems, where the antibody fusion protein is conjugated to a therapeutic agent, a diagnostic agent, or a combination thereof, and administered directly to a patient in need thereof.

Another preferred embodiment is a multivalent, multispecific antibody comprising at least one binding site having affinity toward a PAM4 target epitope and at least one hapten binding site having affinity towards hapten molecules. For example, a bispecific fusion protein may comprise the 679 MAb (or fragment thereof) and the PAM4 MAb (or fragment thereof). The monoclonal 679 antibody binds with high affinity to molecules containing the tri-peptide moiety histamine succinyl glycyl (HSG). Such a bispecific PAM4 antibody fusion protein can be prepared, for example, by obtaining a F(ab′)₂ fragment from 679, as described above. The interchain disulfide bridges of the 679 F(ab)₂ fragment are gently reduced with DTT, taking care to avoid light-heavy chain linkage, to form Fab′-SH fragments. The SH group(s) is (are) activated with an excess of bis-maleimide linker (1,1′-(methylenedi-4,1-phenylene)b-is-maleimide). The PAM4 MAb is converted to Fab′-SH and then reacted with the activated 679 Fab′-SH fragment to obtain a bispecific antibody fusion protein. Bispecific antibody fusion proteins such as this one can be utilized in affinity enhancing systems, where the target antigen is pretargeted with the fusion protein and is subsequently targeted with a diagnostic or therapeutic agent attached to a carrier moiety (targetable construct) containing one or more HSG haptens. In alternative preferred embodiments, a DNL-based hPAM4-679 construct, such as TF10, may be prepared and used as described in the Examples below.

Bispecific antibodies can be made by a variety of conventional methods, e.g., disulfide cleavage and reformation of mixtures of whole IgG or, preferably F(ab′)₂ fragments, fusions of more than one hybridoma to form polyomas that produce antibodies having more than one specificity, and by genetic engineering. Bispecific antibody fusion proteins have been prepared by oxidative cleavage of Fab′ fragments resulting from reductive cleavage of different antibodies. This is advantageously carried out by mixing two different F(ab′)₂ fragments produced by pepsin digestion of two different antibodies, reductive cleavage to form a mixture of Fab′ fragments, followed by oxidative reformation of the disulfide linkages to produce a mixture of F(ab′)₂ fragments including bispecific antibody fusion proteins containing a Fab′ portion specific to each of the original epitopes. General techniques for the preparation of antibody fusion proteins may be found, for example, in Nisonoff et al., Arch Biochem Biophys. 93: 470 (1961), Hammerling et al., J Exp Med. 128: 1461 (1968), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,647.

More selective linkage can be achieved by using a heterobifunctional linker such as maleimidehydroxysuccinimide ester. Reaction of the ester with an antibody or fragment will derivatize amine groups on the antibody or fragment, and the derivative can then be reacted with, e.g., an antibody Fab fragment having free sulfhydryl groups (or, a larger fragment or intact antibody with sulfhydryl groups appended thereto by, e.g., Traut's Reagent). Such a linker is less likely to crosslink groups in the same antibody and improves the selectivity of the linkage.

It is advantageous to link the antibodies or fragments at sites remote from the antigen-binding sites. This can be accomplished by, e.g., linkage to cleaved interchain sulfhydryl groups, as noted above. Another method involves reacting an antibody having an oxidized carbohydrate portion with another antibody that has at lease one free amine function. This results in an initial Schiff base linkage, which is preferably stabilized by reduction to a secondary amine, e.g., by borohydride reduction, to form the final composite. Such site-specific linkages are disclosed, for small molecules, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,958, and for larger addends in U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,784, the Examples section of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

ScFvs with linkers greater than 12 amino acid residues in length (for example, 15- or 18-residue linkers) allow interactions between the V_(H) and V_(L) domains on the same chain and generally form a mixture of monomers, dimers (termed diabodies) and small amounts of higher mass multimers, (Kortt et al., Eur J. Biochem. (1994) 221: 151-157). ScFvs with linkers of 5 or less amino acid residues, however, prohibit intramolecular pairing of the V_(H) and V_(L) domains on the same chain, forcing pairing with V_(H) and V_(L) domains on a different chain. Linkers between 3- and 12-residues form predominantly dimers (Atwell et al., Protein Engineering (1999) 12: 597-604). With linkers between 0 and 2 residues, trimeric (termed triabodies), tetrameric (termed tetrabodies) or higher oligomeric structures of scFvs are formed; however, the exact patterns of oligomerization appear to depend on the composition as well as the orientation of the V-domains, in addition to the linker length.

More recently, a novel technique for construction of mixtures of antibodies, antibody fragments and/or other effector moieties in virtually any combination has been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,550,143; 7,521,056; 7,534,866; 7,527,787; and 7,666,400, the Examples section of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The technique, known generally as dock-and-lock (DNL) involves the production of fusion proteins that comprise at their N- or C-terminal ends one of two complementary peptide sequences, called dimerization and docking domain (DDD) and anchoring domain (AD) sequences. In preferred embodiments, the DDD sequences are derived from the regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and the AD sequence is derived from the sequence of A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP). The DDD sequences form dimers that bind to the AD sequence, which allows formation of trimers, tetramers, hexamers or any of a variety of other complexes. By attaching effector moieties, such as antibodies or antibody fragments, to the DDD and AD sequences, complexes may be formed of any selected combination of antibodies or antibody fragments. The DNL complexes may be covalently stabilized by formation of disulfide bonds or other linkages.

Known Antibodies

Bispecific antibodies comprising the antigen-binding variable region sequences of any known anti-TAA antibody may be utilized, including but not limited to hPAM4 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,282,567), hA20 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,251,164), hA19 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,109,304), hIMMU31 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,655), hLL1 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,312,318,), hLL2 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,074,403), hMu-9 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,387,773), hL243 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,612,180), hMN-14 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,676,924), hRS7 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,238,785), hMN-3 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,541,440), hMN-15 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/846,062, filed Jul. 29, 2010) and hR1 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/772,645, filed Mar. 12, 2010) the Examples section of each cited patent or application incorporated herein by reference.

Other antibodies of use may be commercially obtained from a wide variety of known sources. For example, a variety of antibody secreting hybridoma lines are available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, Va.). A large number of antibodies against various disease targets, including but not limited to tumor-associated antigens, have been deposited at the ATCC and/or have published variable region sequences and are available for use in the claimed methods and compositions. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,312,318; 7,282,567; 7,151,164; 7,074,403; 7,060,802; 7,056,509; 7,049,060; 7,045,132; 7,041,803; 7,041,802; 7,041,293; 7,038,018; 7,037,498; 7,012,133; 7,001,598; 6,998,468; 6,994,976; 6,994,852; 6,989,241; 6,974,863; 6,965,018; 6,964,854; 6,962,981; 6,962,813; 6,956,107; 6,951,924; 6,949,244; 6,946,129; 6,943,020; 6,939,547; 6,921,645; 6,921,645; 6,921,533; 6,919,433; 6,919,078; 6,916,475; 6,905,681; 6,899,879; 6,893,625; 6,887,468; 6,887,466; 6,884,594; 6,881,405; 6,878,812; 6,875,580; 6,872,568; 6,867,006; 6,864,062; 6,861,511; 6,861,227; 6,861,226; 6,838,282; 6,835,549; 6,835,370; 6,824,780; 6,824,778; 6,812,206; 6,793,924; 6,783,758; 6,770,450; 6,767,711; 6,764,688; 6,764,681; 6,764,679; 6,743,898; 6,733,981; 6,730,307; 6,720,15; 6,716,966; 6,709,653; 6,693,176; 6,692,908; 6,689,607; 6,689,362; 6,689,355; 6,682,737; 6,682,736; 6,682,734; 6,673,344; 6,653,104; 6,652,852; 6,635,482; 6,630,144; 6,610,833; 6,610,294; 6,605,441; 6,605,279; 6,596,852; 6,592,868; 6,576,745; 6,572,856; 6,566,076; 6,562,618; 6,545,130; 6,544,749; 6,534,058; 6,528,625; 6,528,269; 6,521,227; 6,518,404; 6,511,665; 6,491,915; 6,488,930; 6,482,598; 6,482,408; 6,479,247; 6,468,531; 6,468,529; 6,465,173; 6,461,823; 6,458,356; 6,455,044; 6,455,040, 6,451,310; 6,444,206′ 6,441,143; 6,432,404; 6,432,402; 6,419,928; 6,413,726; 6,406,694; 6,403,770; 6,403,091; 6,395,276; 6,395,274; 6,387,350; 6,383,759; 6,383,484; 6,376,654; 6,372,215; 6,359,126; 6,355,481; 6,355,444; 6,355,245; 6,355,244; 6,346,246; 6,344,198; 6,340,571; 6,340,459; 6,331,175; 6,306,393; 6,254,868; 6,187,287; 6,183,744; 6,129,914; 6,120,767; 6,096,289; 6,077,499; 5,922,302; 5,874,540; 5,814,440; 5,798,229; 5,789,554; 5,776,456; 5,736,119; 5,716,595; 5,677,136; 5,587,459; 5,443,953, 5,525,338, the Examples section of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. These are exemplary only and a wide variety of other antibodies and their hybridomas are known in the art. The skilled artisan will realize that antibody sequences or antibody-secreting hybridomas against almost any disease-associated antigen may be obtained by a simple search of the ATCC, NCBI and/or USPTO databases for antibodies against a selected disease-associated target of interest. The antigen binding domains of the cloned antibodies may be amplified, excised, ligated into an expression vector, transfected into an adapted host cell and used for protein production, using standard techniques well known in the art.

Pretargeting

Bispecific or multispecific antibodies may be utilized in pre-targeting techniques. Pre-targeting is a multistep process originally developed to resolve the slow blood clearance of directly targeting antibodies, which contributes to undesirable toxicity to normal tissues such as bone marrow. With pre-targeting, a radionuclide or other therapeutic agent is attached to a small delivery molecule (targetable construct or targetable conjugate) that is cleared within minutes from the blood. A pre-targeting bispecific or multispecific antibody, which has binding sites for the targetable construct as well as a target antigen, is administered first, free antibody is allowed to clear from circulation and then the targetable construct is administered.

Pre-targeting methods are well known in the art, for example, as disclosed in Goodwin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,713; Goodwin et al., J. Nucl. Med. 29:226, 1988; Hnatowich et al., J. Nucl. Med. 28:1294, 1987; Oehr et al., J. Nucl. Med. 29:728, 1988; Klibanov et al., J. Nucl. Med. 29:1951, 1988; Sinitsyn et al., J. Nucl. Med. 30:66, 1989; Kalofonos et al., J. Nucl. Med. 31:1791, 1990; Schechter et al., Int. J. Cancer 48:167, 1991; Paganelli et al., Cancer Res. 51:5960, 1991; Paganelli et al., Nucl. Med. Commun. 12:211, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,395; Stickney et al., Cancer Res. 51:6650, 1991; Yuan et al., Cancer Res. 51:3119, 1991; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,077,499; 6,090,381; 6,472,511; and 6,962,702.

A pre-targeting method of treating or diagnosing a disease or disorder in a subject may be provided by: (1) administering to the subject a bispecific antibody or antigen binding antibody fragment; (2) optionally administering to the subject a clearing composition, and allowing the composition to clear the antibody from circulation; and (3) administering to the subject the targetable construct, containing one or more chelated or chemically bound therapeutic or diagnostic agents. The technique may also be utilized for antibody dependent enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT) by administering an enzyme conjugated to a targetable construct, followed by a prodrug that is converted into active form by the enzyme.

Antibody Use for Treatment and Diagnosis

Certain embodiments concern methods of diagnosing or treating a malignancy in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an anti-pancreatic cancer MAb, fusion protein or fragment thereof, wherein the MAb, fusion protein or fragment is bound to at least one diagnostic and/or therapeutic agent. Also preferred is a method for diagnosing or treating cancer, comprising administering to a subject a multivalent, multispecific antibody or fragment thereof comprising one or more antigen binding sites toward a PAM4 antigen and one or more hapten binding sites, waiting a sufficient amount of time for non-bound antibody to clear the subject's blood stream; and then administering to the subject a carrier molecule comprising a diagnostic agent, a therapeutic agent, or a combination thereof, that binds to the hapten-binding site of the localized antibody. In a more preferred embodiment, the cancer is a non-endocrine pancreatic cancer.

The use of MAbs for in vitro diagnosis is well-known. See, for example, Carlsson et al., Bio/Technology 7 (6): 567 (1989). For example, MAbs can be used to detect the presence of a tumor-associated antigen in tissue from biopsy samples. MAbs also can be used to measure the amount of tumor-associated antigen in clinical fluid samples using techniques such as radioimmunoassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and fluorescence immunoassay. In vitro and in vivo methods of diagnosis are discussed in further detail below.

Conjugates of tumor-targeted MAbs and toxins can be used to selectively kill cancer cells in vivo (Spalding, Bio/Technology 9(8): 701 (1991); Goldenberg, Scientific American Science & Medicine 1(1): 64 (1994)). For example, therapeutic studies in experimental animal models have demonstrated the anti-tumor activity of antibodies carrying cytotoxic radionuclides. (Goldenberg et al., Cancer Res. 41: 4354 (1981), Cheung et al., J. Nat'l Cancer Inst. 77: 739 (1986), and Senekowitsch et al., J. Nucl. Med. 30: 531 (1989)). In a preferred embodiment, the conjugate comprises a ⁹⁰Y-labeled hPAM4 antibody. The conjugate may optionally be administered in conjunction with one or more other therapeutic agents. In a preferred embodiment, ⁹⁰Y-labeled hPAM4 is administered together with gemcitabine or 5-fluorouracil to a patient with pancreatic cancer. In a further preferred embodiment, ⁹⁰Y is conjugated to a DOTA chelate for attachment to hPAM4. In a still further preferred embodiment, the ⁹⁰Y-DOTA-hPAM4 is combined with gemcitabine in fractionated doses comprising a treatment cycle, such as with repeated, lower, less-toxic doses of gemcitabine combined with lower, fractionated doses of ⁹⁰Y-DOTA-hPAM4.

As tolerated, repeated cycles of this fractionated dose schedule are indicated. By way of example, 4 weekly doses of 200 mg/m² of gemcitabine are combined with three weekly doses of 8 mg/m² of ⁹⁰Y-DOTA-hPAM4, with the latter commencing in the second week of gemcitabine administration, constitutes a single therapy cycle. Still other doses, higher and lower of each component, may constitute a fractionated dose, which is determined by conventional means of assessing hematopoietic toxicity (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,649,352; 7,112,409; 7,279,289; 7,465,551), since myelosuppressive effects of both agents can be cumulative. A skilled physician in such therapy interventions can adjust these doses based on the patient's bone marrow status and general health status based on many factors, including prior exposure to myelosuppressive therapeutic agents. These principles can also apply to combinations of radiolabeled hPAM4 with other therapeutic agents, including radiosensitizing drugs such as 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin.

Chimeric, humanized and human antibodies and fragments thereof have been used for in vivo therapeutic and diagnostic methods. Accordingly contemplated is a method of delivering a diagnostic or therapeutic agent, or a combination thereof, to a target comprising (i) providing a composition that comprises an anti-pancreatic cancer antibody or fragment thereof, such as a chimeric, humanized or human PAM4 antibody, conjugated to at least one diagnostic and/or therapeutic agent and (ii) administering to a subject the diagnostic or therapeutic antibody conjugate. In a preferred embodiment, the anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies and fragments thereof are humanized or fully human.

Another embodiment concerns a method for treating a malignancy comprising administering a naked anti-pancreatic cancer antibody, antibody fragment or fusion protein, such as a PAM4 antibody, either alone or in conjunction with one or more other therapeutic agents. The other therapeutic agent may be added before, simultaneously with or after the antibody. In a preferred embodiment, the therapeutic agent is gemcitabine, and in a more preferred embodiment, gemcitabine is given with the hPAM4 radioconjugate in a fractionated dose schedule at lower doses than the conventional 800-1,000 mg/m² doses of gemcitabine given weekly for 6 weeks. For example, when combined with fractionated therapeutic doses of ⁹⁰Y-PAM4, repeated fractionated doses intended to function as a radio sensitizing agent of 200-380 mg/m² gemcitabine are infused. The skilled artisan will realize that the antibodies, fusion proteins and/or fragments thereof described and claimed herein may be administered with any known or described therapeutic agent, including but not limited to heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90).

In another form of multimodal therapy, subjects receive immunoconjugates in conjunction with standard cancer chemotherapy. For example, “CVB” (1.5 g/m² cyclophosphamide, 200-400 mg/m² etoposide, and 150-200 mg/m² carmustine) is a regimen used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Patti et al., Eur. J. Haematol. 51: 18 (1993). Other suitable combination chemotherapeutic regimens are well-known to those of skill in the art. See, for example, Freedman et al., “Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas,” in CANCER MEDICINE, VOLUME 2, 3rd Edition, Holland et al. (eds.), pages 2028-2068 (Lea & Febiger 1993). As an illustration, first generation chemotherapeutic regimens for treatment of intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) include C-MOPP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisone) and CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone). A useful second generation chemotherapeutic regimen is m-BACOD (methotrexate, bleomycin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, dexamethasone and leucovorin), while a suitable third generation regimen is MACOP-B (methotrexate, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, bleomycin and leucovorin). Additional useful drugs include phenyl butyrate, bendamustine, and bryostatin-1.

The present invention contemplates the administration of anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies and fragments thereof, including fusion proteins and fragments thereof, alone, as a naked antibody or antibody fragment, or administered as a multimodal therapy. Preferably, the antibody is a humanized or fully human PAM4 antibody or fragment thereof. Multimodal therapies further include immunotherapy with a naked anti-pancreatic cancer antibody supplemented with administration of other antibodies in the form of naked antibodies, fusion proteins, or as immunoconjugates. For example, a humanized or fully human PAM4 antibody may be combined with another naked antibody, or a humanized PAM4 or other antibody conjugated to an isotope, one or more chemotherapeutic agents, cytokines, toxins or a combination thereof. For example, the present invention contemplates treatment of a naked or conjugated PAM4 antibody or fragments thereof before, in combination with, or after other pancreatic tumor associated antibodies such as CA19.9, DUPAN2, SPAN1, Nd2, B72.3, CC49, anti-Le^(a) antibodies, and antibodies to other Lewis antigens (e.g., Le(y)), as well as antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA or CEACAM5), CEACAM6, colon-specific antigen-p (CSAp), MUC-1, MUC-2, MUC-3, MUC-4, MUC-5ac, MUC-16, MUC-17, HLA-DR, CD40, CD74, CD138, HER2/neu, EGFR, EGP-1, EGP-2, angiogenesis factors (e.g., VEGF, P1GF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), tenascin, platelet-derived growth factor, and IL-6, as well as products of oncogenes (e.g., bcl-2, Kras, p53), cMET, and antibodies against tumor necrosis substances.

These solid tumor antibodies may be naked or conjugated to, inter alia, drugs, toxins, isotopes, radionuclides or immunomodulators. Many different antibody combinations may be constructed and used in either naked or conjugated form. Alternatively, different naked antibody combinations may be employed for administration in combination with other therapeutic agents, such as a cytotoxic drug or with radiation, given consecutively, simultaneously, or sequentially.

Administration of the antibodies and their fragments can be effected by intravenous, intraarterial, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intrapleural, intrathecal, perfusion through a regional catheter, or direct intralesional injection. When administering the antibody by injection, the administration may be by continuous infusion or by single or multiple boluses.

The immunoconjugate of the present invention can be formulated for intravenous administration via, for example, bolus injection or continuous infusion. Preferably, the antibody of the present invention is infused over a period of less than about 4 hours, and more preferably, over a period of less than about 3 hours. For example, the first 25-50 mg could be infused within 30 minutes, preferably even 15 min, and the remainder infused over the next 2-3 hrs. Formulations for injection can be presented in unit dosage form, e.g., in ampoules or in multi-dose containers, with an added preservative. The compositions can take such forms as suspensions, solutions or emulsions in oily or aqueous vehicles, and can contain formulatory agents such as suspending, stabilizing and/or dispersing agents. Alternatively, the active ingredient can be in powder form for constitution with a suitable vehicle, e.g., sterile pyrogen-free water, before use.

Additional pharmaceutical methods may be employed to control the duration of action of the therapeutic conjugate. Control release preparations can be prepared through the use of polymers to complex or adsorb the immunoconjugate. For example, biocompatible polymers include matrices of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) and matrices of a polyanhydride copolymer of a stearic acid dimer and sebacic acid. Sherwood et al., Bio/Technology 10: 1446 (1992). The rate of release of an immunoconjugate or antibody from such a matrix depends upon the molecular weight of the immunoconjugate or antibody, the amount of immunoconjugate or antibody within the matrix, and the size of dispersed particles. Saltzman et al., Biophys. J. 55: 163 (1989); Sherwood et al., supra. Other solid dosage forms are described in Ansel et al., PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORMS AND DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS, 5th Edition (Lea & Febiger 1990), and Gennaro (ed.), REMINGTON'S PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, 18th Edition (Mack Publishing Company 1990), and revised editions thereof.

More generally, the dosage of an administered immunoconjugate for humans will vary depending upon such factors as the patient's age, weight, height, sex, general medical condition and previous medical history. It may be desirable to provide the recipient with a dosage of immunoconjugate, antibody fusion protein that is in the range of from about 1 mg/kg to 25 mg/kg as a single intravenous infusion, although a lower or higher dosage also may be administered as circumstances dictate. A dosage of 1-20 mg/kg for a 70 kg patient, for example, is 70-1,400 mg, or 41-824 mg/m² for a 1.7-m patient. The dosage may be repeated as needed, for example, once per week for 4-10 weeks, once per week for 8 weeks, or once per week for 4 weeks. It may also be given less frequently, such as every other week for several months, or monthly or quarterly for many months, as needed in a maintenance therapy.

Alternatively, an antibody may be administered as one dosage every 2 or 3 weeks, repeated for a total of at least 3 dosages. Or, the antibodies may be administered twice per week for 4-6 weeks. If the dosage is lowered to approximately 200-300 mg/m² (340 mg per dosage for a 1.7-m patient, or 4.9 mg/kg for a 70 kg patient), it may be administered once or even twice weekly for 4 to 10 weeks. Alternatively, the dosage schedule may be decreased, namely every 2 or 3 weeks for 2-3 months. It has been determined, however, that even higher doses, such as 20 mg/kg once weekly or once every 2-3 weeks can be administered by slow i.v. infusion, for repeated dosing cycles. The dosing schedule can optionally be repeated at other intervals and dosage may be given through various parenteral routes, with appropriate adjustment of the dose and schedule.

Immunoconjugates

Anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies and fragments thereof may be conjugated to at least one therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent for therapy or diagnosis. For immunotherapy, the objective is to deliver cytotoxic doses of radioactivity, toxin, antibody and/or drug to target cells, while minimizing exposure to non-target tissues. Preferably, anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies are be used to diagnose and/or treat pancreatic tumors.

Any of the antibodies, antibody fragments and fusion proteins can be conjugated with one or more therapeutic or diagnostic agents, using a variety of techniques known in the art. One or more therapeutic or diagnostic agents may be attached to each antibody, antibody fragment or fusion protein, for example by conjugating an agent to a carbohydrate moiety in the Fc region of the antibody. If the Fc region is absent (for example with certain antibody fragments), it is possible to introduce a carbohydrate moiety into the light chain variable region of either an antibody or antibody fragment to which a therapeutic or diagnostic agent may be attached. See, for example, Leung et al., J. Immunol. 154: 5919 (1995); Hansen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,953 (1995), Leung et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,868, the Examples section of each patent incorporated herein by reference.

Methods for conjugating peptides to antibody components via an antibody carbohydrate moiety are well-known to those of skill in the art. See, for example, Shih et al., Int J Cancer 41: 832 (1988); Shih et al., Int J Cancer 46: 1101 (1990); and Shih et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,313, the Examples section of which is incorporated herein by reference. The general method involves reacting an antibody component having an oxidized carbohydrate portion with a carrier polymer that has at least one free amine function and that is loaded with a plurality of therapeutic agents, such as peptides or drugs. This reaction results in an initial Schiff base (imine) linkage, which can be stabilized by reduction to a secondary amine to form the final conjugate.

Antibody fusion proteins or multispecific antibodies comprise two or more antibodies or fragments thereof, each of which may be attached to at least one therapeutic agent and/or diagnostic agent. Accordingly, one or more of the antibodies or fragments thereof of the antibody fusion protein can have more than one therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent attached. Further, the therapeutic agents do not need to be the same but can be different therapeutic agents, for example, one can attach a drug and a radioisotope to the same fusion protein. For example, an IgG can be radiolabeled with ¹³¹I and attached to a drug. The ¹³¹I can be incorporated into the tyrosine of the IgG and the drug attached to the epsilon amino group of the IgG lysines. Both therapeutic and diagnostic agents also can be attached to reduced SH groups and to the carbohydrate side chains of antibodies. Alternatively, a bispecific antibody may comprise one antibody or fragment thereof against a disease antigen and another against a hapten attached to a targetable construct, for use in pretargeting techniques as discussed above.

A therapeutic or diagnostic agent can be attached at the hinge region of a reduced antibody component via disulfide bond formation. As an alternative, such agents can be attached to the antibody component using a heterobifunctional cross-linker, such as N-succinyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)proprionate (SPDP). Yu et al., Int. J. Cancer 56: 244 (1994). General techniques for such conjugation are well-known in the art. See, for example, Wong, CHEMISTRY OF PROTEIN CONJUGATION AND CROSS-LINKING (CRC Press 1991); Upeslacis et al., “Modification of Antibodies by Chemical Methods,” in MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES: PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS, Birch et al. (eds.), pages 187-230 (Wiley-Liss, Inc. 1995); Price, “Production and Characterization of Synthetic Peptide-Derived Antibodies,” in MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES: PRODUCTION, ENGINEERING AND CLINICAL APPLICATION, Ritter et al. (eds.), pages 60-84 (Cambridge University Press 1995).

Click Chemistry

An alternative method for attaching chelating moieties, drugs or other functional groups to an antibody, fragment or fusion protein involves use of click chemistry reactions. The click chemistry approach was originally conceived as a method to rapidly generate complex substances by joining small subunits together in a modular fashion. (See, e.g., Kolb et al., 2004, Angew Chem Int Ed 40:3004-31; Evans, 2007, Aust J Chem 60:384-95.) Various forms of click chemistry reaction are known in the art, such as the Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition copper catalyzed reaction (Tornoe et al., 2002, J Organic Chem 67:3057-64), which is often referred to as the “click reaction.” Other alternatives include cycloaddition reactions such as the Diels-Alder, nucleophilic substitution reactions (especially to small strained rings like epoxy and aziridine compounds), carbonyl chemistry formation of urea compounds and reactions involving carbon-carbon double bonds, such as alkynes in thiol-yne reactions.

The azide alkyne Huisgen cycloaddition reaction uses a copper catalyst in the presence of a reducing agent to catalyze the reaction of a terminal alkyne group attached to a first molecule. In the presence of a second molecule comprising an azide moiety, the azide reacts with the activated alkyne to form a 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole. The copper catalyzed reaction occurs at room temperature and is sufficiently specific that purification of the reaction product is often not required. (Rostovstev et al., 2002, Angew Chem Int Ed 41:2596; Tornoe et al., 2002, J Org Chem 67:3057.) The azide and alkyne functional groups are largely inert towards biomolecules in aqueous medium, allowing the reaction to occur in complex solutions. The triazole formed is chemically stable and is not subject to enzymatic cleavage, making the click chemistry product highly stable in biological systems. Although the copper catalyst is toxic to living cells, the copper-based click chemistry reaction may be used in vitro for immunoconjugate formation.

A copper-free click reaction has been proposed for covalent modification of biomolecules. (See, e.g., Agard et al., 2004, J Am Chem Soc 126:15046-47.) The copper-free reaction uses ring strain in place of the copper catalyst to promote a [3+2] azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction (Id.) For example, cyclooctyne is a 8-carbon ring structure comprising an internal alkyne bond. The closed ring structure induces a substantial bond angle deformation of the acetylene, which is highly reactive with azide groups to form a triazole. Thus, cyclooctyne derivatives may be used for copper-free click reactions (Id.)

Another type of copper-free click reaction was reported by Ning et al. (2010, Angew Chem Int Ed 49:3065-68), involving strain-promoted alkyne-nitrone cycloaddition. To address the slow rate of the original cyclooctyne reaction, electron-withdrawing groups are attached adjacent to the triple bond (Id.) Examples of such substituted cyclooctynes include difluorinated cyclooctynes, 4-dibenzocyclooctynol and azacyclooctyne (Id.) An alternative copper-free reaction involved strain-promoted alkyne-nitrone cycloaddition to give N-alkylated isoxazolines (Id.) The reaction was reported to have exceptionally fast reaction kinetics and was used in a one-pot three-step protocol for site-specific modification of peptides and proteins (Id.) Nitrones were prepared by the condensation of appropriate aldehydes with N-methylhydroxylamine and the cycloaddition reaction took place in a mixture of acetonitrile and water (Id.) These and other known click chemistry reactions may be used to attach chelating moieties to antibodies or other targeting molecules in vitro.

Therapeutic Agents

A wide variety of therapeutic reagents can be administered concurrently or sequentially, or advantageously conjugated to the antibodies of the invention, for example, drugs, toxins, oligonucleotides, immunomodulators, hormones, hormone antagonists, enzymes, enzyme inhibitors, radionuclides, angiogenesis inhibitors, pro-apoptotic agents, etc. The therapeutic agents recited here are those agents that are useful for either conjugated to an antibody, fragment or fusion protein or for administration separately with a naked antibody as described above.

Therapeutic agents include, for example, chemotherapeutic drugs such as vinca alkaloids, anthracyclines, gemcitabine, epipodophyllotoxins, taxanes, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, antibiotics, SN-38, COX-2 inhibitors, antimitotics, antiangiogenic and apoptotic agents, particularly doxorubicin, methotrexate, taxol, CPT-11, camptothecans, proteosome inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, HDAC inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and others from these and other classes of anticancer agents.

Other useful cancer chemotherapeutic drugs include nitrogen mustards, alkyl sulfonates, nitrosoureas, triazenes, folic acid analogs, COX-2 inhibitors, antimetabolites, pyrimidine analogs, purine analogs, platinum coordination complexes, mTOR inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, proteosome inhibitors, HDAC inhibitors, camptothecins and hormones. Suitable chemotherapeutic agents are described in REMINGTON'S PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, 19th Ed. (Mack Publishing Co. 1995), and in GOODMAN AND GILMAN'S THE PHARMACOLOGICAL BASIS OF THERAPEUTICS, 7th Ed. (MacMillan Publishing Co. 1985), as well as revised editions of these publications. Other suitable chemotherapeutic agents, such as experimental drugs, are known to those of skill in the art.

In a preferred embodiment, conjugates of camptothecins and related compounds, such as SN-38, may be conjugated to hPAM4 or other anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,591,994; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/388,032, filed Mar. 23, 2006, the Examples section of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In another preferred embodiment, an hPAM4 antibody is conjugated to gemcitabine, which may be given before, after, or concurrently with a naked or conjugated chimeric, humanized or human PAM4 antibody. Preferably, the conjugated hPAM4 antibody or antibody fragment is conjugated to a radionuclide.

A toxin can be of animal, plant or microbial origin. A toxin, such as Pseudomonas exotoxin, may also be complexed to or form the therapeutic agent portion of an immunoconjugate of the anti-pancreatic cancer and hPAM4 antibodies. Other toxins suitably employed in the preparation of such conjugates or other fusion proteins, include ricin, abrin, ribonuclease (RNase), DNase I, Staphylococcal enterotoxin-A, pokeweed antiviral protein, gelonin, diphtheria toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin, and Pseudomonas endotoxin. See, for example, Pastan et al., Cell 47:641 (1986), Goldenberg, CA—A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 44:43 (1994), Sharkey and Goldenberg, CA—A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 56:226 (2006). Additional toxins suitable for use are known to those of skill in the art and are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,499, the Examples section of which is incorporated herein by reference.

An immunomodulator, such as a cytokine, may also be conjugated to, or form the therapeutic agent portion of the immunoconjugate, or may be administered with, but unconjugated to, an antibody, antibody fragment or fusion protein. The fusion protein may comprise one or more antibodies or fragments thereof binding to different antigens. For example, the fusion protein may bind the PAM4 antigen as well as to immunomodulating cells or factors. Alternatively, subjects can receive a naked antibody, antibody fragment or fusion protein and a separately administered cytokine, which can be administered before, concurrently or after administration of the naked antibodies. As used herein, the term “immunomodulator” includes a cytokine, a lymphokine, a monokine, a stem cell growth factor, a lymphotoxin, a hematopoietic factor, a colony stimulating factor (CSF), an interferon (IFN), parathyroid hormone, thyroxine, insulin, proinsulin, relaxin, prorelaxin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), hepatic growth factor, prostaglandin, fibroblast growth factor, prolactin, placental lactogen, OB protein, a transforming growth factor (TGF), TGF-α, TGF-β, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), erythropoietin, thrombopoietin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), TNF-α, TNF-β, a mullerian-inhibiting substance, mouse gonadotropin-associated peptide, inhibin, activin, vascular endothelial growth factor, integrin, interleukin (IL), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon-α, interferon-β, interferon-γ, S1 factor, IL-1, IL-1cc, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IL-12, IL-13, IL-14, IL-15, IL-16, IL-17, IL-18 IL-21 and IL-25, LIF, kit-ligand, FLT-3, angiostatin, thrombospondin, endostatin and LT.

The therapeutic agent may comprise one or more radioactive isotopes useful for treating diseased tissue. Particularly useful therapeutic radionuclides include, but are not limited to ¹¹¹In, ¹⁷⁷Lu, ²¹²Bi, ²¹³Bi, ²¹¹At, ⁶²Cu, ⁶⁴Cu, ⁶⁷Cu, ⁹⁰Y, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, ³²P, ³³P, ⁴⁷Sc, ¹¹¹Ag ⁶⁷Ga, ¹⁴²Pr, ¹⁵³Sm, ¹⁶¹Tb, ¹⁶⁶Dy, ¹⁶⁶Ho, ¹⁸⁶Re, ¹⁸⁸Re, ¹⁸⁹Re, ²¹²Pb, ²²³Ra, ²²⁵Ac, ⁵⁹Fe, ⁷⁵Se, ⁷⁷As, ⁸⁹Sr, ⁹⁹Mo, ¹⁰⁵Rh, ¹⁰⁹Pd, ¹⁴³Pr, ¹⁴⁹Pm, ¹⁶⁹Er, ¹⁹⁴Ir, ¹⁹⁸Au, ¹⁹⁹Au, and ²¹¹. The therapeutic radionuclide preferably has a decay energy in the range of 20 to 6,000 keV, preferably in the ranges 60 to 200 keV for an Auger emitter, 100-2,500 keV for a beta emitter, and 4,000-6,000 keV for an alpha emitter. Maximum decay energies of useful beta-particle-emitting nuclides are preferably 20-5,000 keV, more preferably 100-4,000 keV, and most preferably 500-2,500 keV. Also preferred are radionuclides that substantially decay with Auger-emitting particles. For example, Co-58, Ga-67, Br-80m, Tc-99m, Rh-103m, Pt-109, In-111, Sb-119, 1-125, Ho-161, Os-189m and Ir-192. Decay energies of useful beta-particle-emitting nuclides are preferably <1,000 keV, more preferably <100 keV, and most preferably <70 keV. Also preferred are radionuclides that substantially decay with generation of alpha-particles. Such radionuclides include, but are not limited to: Dy-152, At-211, Bi-212, Ra-223, Rn-219, Po-215, Bi-211, Ac-225, Fr-221, At-217, Bi-213 and Fm-255. Decay energies of useful alpha-particle-emitting radionuclides are preferably 2,000-10,000 keV, more preferably 3,000-8,000 keV, and most preferably 4,000-7,000 keV.

For example, ⁶⁷Cu, considered one of the more promising radioisotopes for radioimmunotherapy due to its 61.5-hour half-life and abundant supply of beta particles and gamma rays, can be conjugated to an antibody using the chelating agent, p-bromoacetamido-benzyl-tetraethylaminetetraacetic acid (TETA). Alternatively, ⁹⁰Y, which emits an energetic beta particle, can be coupled to an antibody, antibody fragment or fusion protein, using diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), or more preferably using DOTA. Methods of conjugating ⁹⁰Y to antibodies or targetable constructs are known in the art and any such known methods may be used. (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,259,249, the Examples section of which is incorporated herein by reference. See also Linden et al., Clin Cancer Res. 11:5215-22, 2005; Sharkey et al., J Nucl Med. 46:620-33, 2005; Sharkey et al., J Nucl Med. 44:2000-18, 2003.)

Additional potential therapeutic radioisotopes include ¹¹C, ¹³N, ¹⁵O, ⁷⁵Br, ¹⁹⁸Au, ²²⁴Ac, ¹²⁶I, ¹³³I, ⁷⁷Br, ^(113m)In, ⁹⁵Ru, ⁹⁷Ru, ¹⁰³Ru, ¹⁰⁵Ru, ¹⁰⁷Hg, ²⁰³Hg, ^(121m)Te, ^(122m)Te, ¹⁶⁵Tm, ¹⁶⁷Tm, ¹⁶⁸Tm, ¹⁹⁷Pt, ¹⁰⁹Pd, ¹⁰⁵Rh, ¹⁴²Pr, ¹⁴³Pr, ¹⁶¹Tb, ¹⁶⁶Ho, ¹⁹⁹Au, ⁵⁷Co, ⁵¹Cr, ⁵⁹Fe, ⁷⁵Se, ²⁰¹Tl, ²²⁵Ac, ⁷⁶Br, ¹⁶⁹Yb, and the like.

In another embodiment, a radiosensitizer can be used in combination with a naked or conjugated antibody or antibody fragment. For example, the radiosensitizer can be used in combination with a radiolabeled antibody or antibody fragment. The addition of the radiosensitizer can result in enhanced efficacy when compared to treatment with the radiolabeled antibody or antibody fragment alone. Radiosensitizers are described in D. M. Goldenberg (ed.), CANCER THERAPY WITH RADIOLABELED ANTIBODIES, CRC Press (1995). Other typical radionsensitizers of interest for use with this technology include gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin, and have been used in combination with external irradiation in the therapy of diverse cancers, including pancreatic cancer. Therefore, we have studied the combination of gemcitabine at what is believed to be radiosensitizing doses (once weekly 200 mg/m² over 4 weeks) of gemcitabine combined with fractionated doses of ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4, and have observed objective evidence of pancreatic cancer reduction after a single cycle of this combination that proved to be well-tolerated (no grade 3-4 toxicities by NCl-CTC v. 3 standard).

Antibodies or fragments thereof that have a boron addend-loaded carrier for thermal neutron activation therapy will normally be effected in similar ways. However, it will be advantageous to wait until non-targeted immunoconjugate clears before neutron irradiation is performed. Clearance can be accelerated using an anti-idiotypic antibody that binds to the anti-pancreatic cancer antibody. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,846 for a description of this general principle. For example, boron addends such as carboranes, can be attached to antibodies. Carboranes can be prepared with carboxyl functions on pendant side chains, as is well-known in the art. Attachment of carboranes to a carrier, such as aminodextran, can be achieved by activation of the carboxyl groups of the carboranes and condensation with amines on the carrier. The intermediate conjugate is then conjugated to the antibody. After administration of the antibody conjugate, a boron addend is activated by thermal neutron irradiation and converted to radioactive atoms which decay by alpha-emission to produce highly toxic, short-range effects.

Interference RNA

Another type of therapeutic agent is RNAi or siRNA. RNA interference (RNAi) is mediated by the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) and is initiated by short double-stranded RNA molecules that interact with the catalytic RISC component argonaute (Rand et al., 2005, Cell 123:621-29). Types of RNAi molecules include microRNA (miRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA). RNAi species can bind with messenger RNA (mRNA) through complementary base-pairing and inhibits gene expression by post-transcriptional gene silencing. Upon binding to a complementary mRNA species, RNAi induces cleavage of the mRNA molecule by the argonaute component of RISC. Among other characteristics, miRNA and siRNA differ in the degree of specificity for particular gene targets, with siRNA being relatively specific for a particular target gene and miRNA inhibiting translation of multiple mRNA species.

Therapeutic use of RNAi by inhibition of selected gene expression has been attempted for a variety of disease states, such as macular degeneration and respiratory syncytial virus infection (Sah, 2006, Life Sci 79:1773-80). It has been suggested that siRNA functions in host cell defenses against viral infection and siRNA has been widely examined as an approach to anti-viral therapy (see, e.g., Zhang et al., 2004, Nature Med 11:56-62; Novina et al., 2002, Nature Med 8:681-86; Palliser et al., 2006, Nature 439:89-94). The use of siRNA for cancer therapy has also been attempted. Fujii et al. (2006, Int J Oncol 29:541-48) transfected HPV positive cervical cancer cells with siRNA against HPV E6 and E7 and suppressed tumor growth. siRNA-mediated knockdown of metadherin expression in breast cancer cells was reported to inhibit experimental lung metastasis (Brown and Ruoslahti, 2004, Cancer Cell 5:365-74).

Attempts have been made to provide targeted delivery of siRNA to reduce the potential for off-target toxicity. Song et al. (2005, Nat Biotechnol 23:709-17) used protamine-conjugated Fab fragments against HIV envelope protein to deliver siRNA to circulating cells. Schiffelers et al. (2004, Nucl Acids Res 32:e149) conjugated RGD peptides to nanoparticles to deliver anti-VEGFR2 siRNA to tumors and inhibited tumor angiogenesis and growth rate in nude mice. Dickerson et al. used nanogels functionalized with anti-EphA2 receptor peptides to chemosensitize ovarian cancer cells with siRNA against EGFR. Dendrimer-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles have been applied to the targeted delivery of antisense survivin oligodeoxynucleotides (Pan et al., 2007, Cancer Res 67:8156-63).

The skilled artisan will realize that any siRNA or interference RNA species may be attached to the subject antibodies. siRNA and RNAi species against a wide variety of targets are known in the art, and any such known oligonucleotide species may be utilized in the claimed methods and compositions.

Known siRNA species of potential use include those specific for IKK-gamma (U.S. Pat. No. 7,022,828); VEGF, Flt-1 and Flk-1/KDR (U.S. Pat. No. 7,148,342); Bc12 and EGFR (U.S. Pat. No. 7,541,453); CDC20 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,550,572); transducin (beta)-like 3 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,576,196); KRAS (U.S. Pat. No. 7,576,197); carbonic anhydrase II (U.S. Pat. No. 7,579,457); complement component 3 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,582,746); interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) (U.S. Pat. No. 7,592,443); survivin (U.S. Pat. No. 7,608,7070); superoxide dismutase 1 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,632,938); MET proto-oncogene (U.S. Pat. No. 7,632,939); amyloid beta precursor protein (APP) (U.S. Pat. No. 7,635,771); IGF-1R (U.S. Pat. No. 7,638,621); ICAM1 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,642,349); complement factor B (U.S. Pat. No. 7,696,344); p53 (7,781,575), and apolipoprotein B (7,795,421), the Examples section of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Additional siRNA species are available from known commercial sources, such as Sigma-Aldrich (St Louis, Mo.), Invitrogen (Carlsbad, Calif.), Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Santa Cruz, Calif.), Ambion (Austin, Tex.), Dharmacon (Thermo Scientific, Lafayette, Colo.), Promega (Madison, Wis.), Minis Bio (Madison, Wis.) and Qiagen (Valencia, Calif.), among many others. Other publicly available sources of siRNA species include the siRNAdb database at the Stockholm Bioinformatics Centre, the MIT/ICBP siRNA Database, the RNAi Consortium shRNA Library at the Broad Institute, and the Probe database at NCBI. For example, there are 30,852 siRNA species in the NCBI Probe database. The skilled artisan will realize that for any gene of interest, either an siRNA species has already been designed, or one may readily be designed using publicly available software tools. Any such siRNA species may be delivered using the subject DNL complexes.

Exemplary siRNA species that have been reported are listed in Table 1. Although siRNA is delivered as a double-stranded molecule, for simplicity only the sense strand sequences are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Exemplary siRNA Sequences Target Sequence SEQ ID NO VEGF R2 AATGCGGCGGTGGTGACAGTA SEQ ID NO: 22 VEGF R2 AAGCTCAGCACACAGAAAGAC SEQ ID NO: 23 CXCR4 UAAAAUCUUCCUGCCCACCdTdT SEQ ID NO: 24 CXCR4 GGAAGCUGUUGGCUGAAAAdTdT SEQ ID NO: 25 PPARC1 AAGACCAGCCUCUUUGCCCAG SEQ ID NO: 26 Dynamin 2 GGACCAGGCAGAAAACGAG SEQ ID NO: 27 Catenin CUAUCAGGAUGACGCGG SEQ ID NO: 28 E1A binding  UGACACAGGCAGGCUUGACUU SEQ ID NO: 29 protein Plasminogen GGTGAAGAAGGGCGTCCAA SEQ ID NO: 30 activator K-ras GATCCGTTGGAGCTGTTGGCGTAGTT SEQ ID NO: 31 CAAGAGACTCGCCAACAGCTCCAACT TTTGGAAA Sortilin 1 AGGTGGTGTTAACAGCAGAG SEQ ID NO: 32 Apolipoprotein E AAGGTGGAGCAAGCGGTGGAG SEQ ID NO: 33 Apolipoprotein E AAGGAGTTGAAGGCCGACAAA SEQ ID NO: 34 Bcl-X UAUGGAGCUGCAGAGGAUGdTdT SEQ ID NO: 35 Raf-1 TTTGAATATCTGTGCTGAGAACACA SEQ ID NO: 36 GTTCTCAGCACAGATATTCTTTTT Heat shock AATGAGAAAAGCAAAAGGTGCCCTGTCTC SEQ ID NO: 37 transcription  factor 2 IGFBP3 AAUCAUCAUCAAGAAAGGGCA SEQ ID NO: 38 Thioredoxin AUGACUGUCAGGAUGUUGCdTdT SEQ ID NO: 39 CD44 GAACGAAUCCUGAAGACAUCU SEQ ID NO: 40 MMP14 AAGCCTGGCTACAGCAATATGCCTGTCTC SEQ ID NO: 41 MAPKAPK2 UGACCAUCACCGAGUUUAUdTdT SEQ ID NO: 42 FGFR1 AAGTCGGACGCAACAGAGAAA SEQ ID NO: 43 ERBB2 CUACCUUUCUACGGACGUGdTdT SEQ ID NO: 44 BCL2L1 CTGCCTAAGGCGGATTTGAAT SEQ ID NO: 45 ABL1 TTAUUCCUUCUUCGGGAAGUC SEQ ID NO: 46 CEACAM1 AACCTTCTGGAACCCGCCCAC SEQ ID NO: 47 CD9 GAGCATCTTCGAGCAAGAA SEQ ID NO: 48 CD151 CATGTGGCACCGTTTGCCT SEQ ID NO: 49 Caspase 8 AACTACCAGAAAGGTATACCT SEQ ID NO: 50 BRCA1 UCACAGUGUCCUUUAUGUAdTdT SEQ ID NO: 51 p53 GCAUGAACCGGAGGCCCAUTT SEQ ID NO: 52 CEACAM6 CCGGACAGTTCCATGTATA SEQ ID NO: 53

Diagnostic Agents

In the context of this application, the terms “diagnosis” or “detection” can be used interchangeably. Whereas diagnosis usually refers to defining a tissue's specific histological status, detection recognizes and locates a tissue, lesion or organism containing a particular antigen.

The subject antibodies and fragments can be detectably labeled by linking the antibody to an enzyme. When the antibody-enzyme conjugate is incubated in the presence of the appropriate substrate, the enzyme moiety reacts with the substrate to produce a chemical moiety which can be detected, for example, by spectrophotometric, fluorometric or visual means. Examples of enzymes that can be used to detectably label antibody include malate dehydrogenase, staphylococcal nuclease, delta-V-steroid isomerase, yeast alcohol dehydrogenase, alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, triose phosphate isomerase, horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, asparaginase, glucose oxidase, alpha-galactosidase, ribonuclease, urease, catalase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glucoamylase and acetylcholinesterase.

The immunoconjugate may comprise one or more radioactive isotopes useful for detecting diseased tissue. Particularly useful diagnostic radionuclides include, but are not limited to, ¹¹⁰In, ¹¹¹In, ¹⁷⁷Lu, ¹⁸F, ⁵²Fe, ⁶²Cu, ⁶⁴Cu, ⁶⁷Cu, ⁶⁷Ga, ⁶⁸Ga, ⁸⁶Y, ⁹⁰Y, ⁸⁹Zr, ^(94m)Tc, ⁹⁴Tc, ^(99m)Tc, ¹²⁰I, ¹²³I, ¹²⁴I, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, ¹⁵⁴⁻¹⁵⁸Gd, ³²P, ¹¹C, ¹³N, ¹⁵O, ¹⁸⁶Re, ¹⁸⁸Re, ⁵¹Mn, ^(52m)Mn, ⁵⁵Co, ⁷²As, ⁷⁵Br, ⁷⁶Br, ^(82m)Rb, ⁸³Sr, or other gamma-, beta-, or positron-emitters, preferably with a decay energy in the range of 20 to 4,000 keV, more preferably in the range of 25 to 4,000 keV, and even more preferably in the range of 25 to 1,000 keV, and still more preferably in the range of 70 to 700 keV. Total decay energies of useful positron-emitting radionuclides are preferably <2,000 keV, more preferably under 1,000 keV, and most preferably <700 keV. Radionuclides useful as diagnostic agents utilizing gamma-ray detection include, but are not limited to: ⁵¹Cr, ⁵⁷Co, ⁵⁸Co, ⁵⁹Fe, ⁶⁷Cu, ⁶⁷Ga, ⁷⁵Se, ⁹⁷Ru, ^(99m)Tc, ¹¹¹In, ^(114m)In, ¹²³I, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, ¹⁶⁹Yb, ¹⁹⁷Hg, and ²⁰¹Tl. Decay energies of useful gamma-ray emitting radionuclides are preferably 20-2000 keV, more preferably 60-600 keV, and most preferably 100-300 keV.

Methods of diagnosing cancer in a subject may be accomplished by administering a diagnostic immunoconjugate and detecting the diagnostic label attached to an immunoconjugate that is localized to a cancer or tumor. The antibodies, antibody fragments and fusion proteins may be conjugated to the diagnostic agent or may be administered in a pretargeting technique using targetable constructs attached to a diagnostic agent. Radioactive agents that can be used as diagnostic agents are discussed above. A suitable non-radioactive diagnostic agent is a contrast agent suitable for magnetic resonance imaging, X-rays, computed tomography or ultrasound. Magnetic imaging agents include, for example, non-radioactive metals, such as manganese, iron and gadolinium, complexed with metal-chelate combinations that include 2-benzyl-DTPA and its monomethyl and cyclohexyl analogs. See U.S. Ser. No. 09/921,290 filed on Oct. 10, 2001, the Examples section of which is incorporated herein by reference. Other imaging agents such as PET scanning nucleotides, preferably ¹⁸F, may also be used.

Contrast agents, such as MRI contrast agents, including, for example, gadolinium ions, lanthanum ions, dysprosium ions, iron ions, manganese ions or other comparable labels, CT contrast agents, and ultrasound contrast agents may be used as diagnostic agents. Paramagnetic ions suitable for use include chromium (III), manganese (II), iron (III), iron (II), cobalt (II), nickel (II), copper (II), neodymium (III), samarium (III), ytterbium (III), gadolinium (III), vanadium (II), terbium (III), dysprosium (III), holmium (III) and erbium (III), with gadolinium being particularly preferred.

Ions useful in other contexts, such as X-ray imaging, include but are not limited to lanthanum (III), gold (III), lead (II) and bismuth (III). Fluorescent labels include rhodamine, fluorescein and renographin. Rhodamine and fluorescein are often linked via an isothiocyanate intermediate.

Metals are also useful in diagnostic agents, including those for magnetic resonance imaging techniques. These metals include, but are not limited to: gadolinium, manganese, iron, chromium, copper, cobalt, nickel, dysprosium, rhenium, europium, terbium, holmium and neodymium. In order to load an antibody with radioactive metals or paramagnetic ions, it may be necessary to react it with a reagent having a long tail to which are attached a multiplicity of chelating groups for binding the ions. Such a tail can be a polymer such as a polylysine, polysaccharide, or other derivatized or derivatizable chain having pendant groups to which can be bound chelating groups such as, e.g., ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), porphyrins, polyamines, crown ethers, bis-thiosemicarbazones, polyoximes, and like groups known to be useful for this purpose.

Chelates are coupled to an antibody, fusion protein, or fragments thereof using standard chemistries. The chelate is normally linked to the antibody by a group which enables formation of a bond to the molecule with minimal loss of immunoreactivity and minimal aggregation and/or internal cross-linking. Other, more unusual, methods and reagents for conjugating chelates to antibodies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,659 to Hawthorne, entitled “Antibody Conjugates”, issued Apr. 25, 1989, the Examples section of which is incorporated herein by reference. Particularly useful metal-chelate combinations include 2-benzyl-DTPA and its monomethyl and cyclohexyl analogs, used with diagnostic isotopes in the general energy range of 20 to 2,000 keV. The same chelates, when complexed with non-radioactive metals, such as manganese, iron and gadolinium are useful for MRI. Macrocyclic chelates such as NOTA, DOTA, and TETA are of use with a variety of metals and radiometals, most particularly with radionuclides of gallium, yttrium and copper, respectively. Such metal-chelate complexes can be made very stable by tailoring the ring size to the metal of interest. Other ring-type chelates such as macrocyclic polyethers, which are of interest for stably binding nuclides, such as 223Ra for RAIT are encompassed by the invention.

Radiopaque and contrast materials are used for enhancing X-rays and computed tomography, and include iodine compounds, barium compounds, gallium compounds, thallium compounds, etc. Specific compounds include barium, diatrizoate, ethiodized oil, gallium citrate, iocarmic acid, iocetamic acid, iodamide, iodipamide, iodoxamic acid, iogulamide, iohexyl, iopamidol, iopanoic acid, ioprocemic acid, iosefamic acid, ioseric acid, iosulamide meglumine, iosemetic acid, iotasul, iotetric acid, iothalamic acid, iotroxic acid, ioxaglic acid, ioxotrizoic acid, ipodate, meglumine, metrizamide, metrizoate, propyliodone, and thallous chloride.

The antibodies, antibody fragments and fusion proteins also can be labeled with a fluorescent compound. The presence of a fluorescent-labeled MAb is determined by exposing the antibody to light of the proper wavelength and detecting the resultant fluorescence. Fluorescent labeling compounds include Alexa 350, Alexa 430, AMCA, aminoacridine, BODIPY 630/650, BODIPY 650/665, BODIPY-FL, BODIPY-R6G, BODIPY-TMR, BODIPY-TRX, 5-carboxy-4′,5′-dichloro-2′,7′-dimethoxy fluorescein, 5-carboxy-2′,4′,5′,7′-tetrachlorofluorescein, 5-carboxyfluorescein, 5-carboxyrhodamine, 6-carboxyrhodamine, 6-carboxytetramethyl amino, Cascade Blue, Cy2, Cy3, Cy5,6-FAM, dansyl chloride, Fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, fluorescamine, HEX, 6-JOE, NBD (7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole), Oregon Green 488, Oregon Green 500, Oregon Green 514, Pacific Blue, phthalic acid, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, cresyl fast violet, cresyl blue violet, brilliant cresyl blue, para-aminobenzoic acid, erythrosine, phthalocyanines, phthaldehyde, azomethines, cyanines, xanthines, succinylfluoresceins, rare earth metal cryptates, europium trisbipyridine diamine, a europium cryptate or chelate, diamine, dicyanins, La Jolla blue dye, allopycocyanin, allococyanin B, phycocyanin C, phycocyanin R, thiamine, phycoerythrocyanin, phycoerythrin R, REG, Rhodamine Green, rhodamine isothiocyanate, Rhodamine Red, ROX, TAMRA, TET, TRIT (tetramethyl rhodamine isothiol), Tetramethylrhodamine, and Texas Red. Fluorescently-labeled antibodies are particularly useful for flow cytometry analysis, but can also be used in endoscopic and intravascular detection methods.

Alternatively, the antibodies, antibody fragments and fusion proteins can be detectably labeled by coupling the antibody to a chemiluminescent compound. The presence of the chemiluminescent-tagged MAb is determined by detecting the presence of luminescence that arises during the course of a chemical reaction. Examples of chemiluminescent labeling compounds include luminol, isoluminol, an aromatic acridinium ester, an imidazole, an acridinium salt and an oxalate ester.

Similarly, a bioluminescent compound can be used to label the antibodies and fragments there. Bioluminescence is a type of chemiluminescence found in biological systems in which a catalytic protein increases the efficiency of the chemiluminescent reaction. The presence of a bioluminescent protein is determined by detecting the presence of luminescence. Bioluminescent compounds that are useful for labeling include luciferin, luciferase and aequorin.

Accordingly, a method of diagnosing a malignancy in a subject is described, comprising performing an in vitro diagnosis assay on a specimen (fluid, tissue or cells) from the subject with a composition comprising an anti-pancreatic cancer MAb, fusion protein or fragment thereof. Immunohistochemistry can be used to detect the presence of PAM4 antigen in a cell or tissue by the presence of bound antibody. Preferably, the malignancy that is being diagnosed is a cancer. Most preferably, the cancer is pancreatic cancer.

Additionally, a chelator such as DTPA, DOTA, TETA, or NOTA or a suitable peptide, to which a detectable label, such as a fluorescent molecule, or cytotoxic agent, such as a heavy metal or radionuclide, can be conjugated to a subject antibody. For example, a therapeutically useful immunoconjugate can be obtained by conjugating a photoactive agent or dye to an antibody fusion protein. Fluorescent compositions, such as fluorochrome, and other chromogens, or dyes, such as porphyrins sensitive to visible light, have been used to detect and to treat lesions by directing the suitable light to the lesion. In therapy, this has been termed photoradiation, phototherapy, or photodynamic therapy (Jori et al. (eds.), PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY OF TUMORS AND OTHER DISEASES (Libreria Progetto 1985); van den Bergh, Chem. Britain 22:430 (1986)). Moreover, monoclonal antibodies have been coupled with photoactivated dyes for achieving phototherapy. Mew et al., J. Immunol. 130:1473 (1983); idem., Cancer Res. 45:4380 (1985); Oseroff et al., Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:8744 (1986); idem., Photochem. Photobiol. 46:83 (1987); Hasan et al., Prog. Clin. Biol. Res. 288:471 (1989); Tatsuta et al., Lasers Surg. Med. 9:422 (1989); Pelegrin et al., Cancer 67:2529 (1991).

Fluorescent and radioactive agents conjugated to antibodies or used in bispecific, pretargeting methods, are particularly useful for endoscopic, intraoperative or intravascular detection of the targeted antigens associated with diseased tissues or clusters of cells, such as malignant tumors, as disclosed in Goldenberg U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,716,595; 6,096,289 and 6,387,350, the Examples section of each incorporated herein by reference, particularly with gamma-, beta- and positron-emitters. Endoscopic applications may be used when there is spread to a structure that allows an endoscope, such as the colon. Radionuclides useful for positron emission tomography include, but are not limited to: F-18, Mn-51, Mn-52m, Fe-52, Co-55, Cu-62, Cu-64, Ga-68, As-72, Br-75, Br-76, Rb-82m, Sr-83, Y-86, Zr-89, Tc-94m, In-110, 1-120, and 1-124. Total decay energies of useful positron-emitting radionuclides are preferably <2,000 keV, more preferably under 1,000 keV, and most preferably <700 keV. Radionuclides useful as diagnostic agents utilizing gamma-ray detection include, but are not limited to: Cr-51, Co-57, Co-58, Fe-59, Cu-67, Ga-67, Se-75, R^(u)-97, Tc-99m, In-111, In-114m, I-123, I-125, I-131, Yb-169, Hg-197, and T1-201. Decay energies of useful gamma-ray emitting radionuclides are preferably 20-2000 keV, more preferably 60-600 keV, and most preferably 100-300 keV.

In Vitro Diagnosis

The present invention contemplates the use of anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies to screen biological samples in vitro for the presence of the PAM4 antigen. In such immunoassays, the antibody, antibody fragment or fusion protein may be utilized in liquid phase or bound to a solid-phase carrier, as described below. For purposes of in vitro diagnosis, any type of antibody such as murine, chimeric, humanized or human may be utilized, since there is no host immune response to consider.

One example of a screening method for determining whether a biological sample contains the PAM4 antigen is the radioimmunoassay (RIA). For example, in one form of RIA, the substance under test is mixed with PAM4 MAb in the presence of radiolabeled PAM4 antigen. In this method, the concentration of the test substance will be inversely proportional to the amount of labeled PAM4 antigen bound to the MAb and directly related to the amount of free, labeled PAM4 antigen. Other suitable screening methods will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.

Alternatively, in vitro assays can be performed in which an anti-pancreatic cancer antibody, antibody fragment or fusion protein is bound to a solid-phase carrier. For example, MAbs can be attached to a polymer, such as aminodextran, in order to link the MAb to an insoluble support such as a polymer-coated bead, a plate or a tube.

Other suitable in vitro assays will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. The specific concentrations of detectably labeled antibody and PAM4 antigen, the temperature and time of incubation, as well as other assay conditions may be varied, depending on various factors including the concentration of the PAM4 antigen in the sample, the nature of the sample, and the like. The binding activity of a sample of anti-pancreatic cancer antibody may be determined according to well-known methods. Those skilled in the art will be able to determine operative and optimal assay conditions for each determination by employing routine experimentation.

The presence of the PAM4 antigen in a biological sample can be determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (e.g., Gold et al. J Clin Oncol. 24:252-58, 2006). In the direct competitive ELISA, a pure or semipure antigen preparation is bound to a solid support that is insoluble in the fluid or cellular extract being tested and a quantity of detectably labeled soluble antibody is added to permit detection and/or quantitation of the binary complex formed between solid-phase antigen and labeled antibody.

In contrast, a “double-determinant” ELISA, also known as a “two-site ELISA” or “sandwich assay,” requires small amounts of antigen and the assay does not require extensive purification of the antigen. Thus, the double-determinant ELISA is preferred to the direct competitive ELISA for the detection of an antigen in a clinical sample. See, for example, the use of the double-determinant ELISA for quantitation of the c-myc oncoprotein in biopsy specimens. Field et al., Oncogene 4: 1463 (1989); Spandidos et al., AntiCancer Res. 9: 821 (1989).

In a double-determinant ELISA, a quantity of unlabeled MAb or antibody fragment (the “capture antibody”) is bound to a solid support, the test sample is brought into contact with the capture antibody, and a quantity of detectably labeled soluble antibody (or antibody fragment) is added to permit detection and/or quantitation of the ternary complex formed between the capture antibody, antigen, and labeled antibody. In the present context, an antibody fragment is a portion of an anti-pancreatic cancer MAb that binds to an epitope of the PAM4 antigen. Methods of performing a double-determinant ELISA are well-known. See, for example, Field et al., supra, Spandidos et al., supra, and Moore et al., “Twin-Site ELISAs for fos and myc Oncoproteins Using the AMPAK System,” in METHODS 1N MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, VOL. 10, pages 273-281 (The Humana Press, Inc. 1992). In the double-determinant ELISA, the soluble antibody or antibody fragment must bind to a PAM4 epitope that is distinct from the epitope recognized by the capture antibody. The double-determinant ELISA can be performed to ascertain whether the PAM4 antigen is present in a biopsy sample. Alternatively, the assay can be performed to quantitate the amount of PAM4 antigen that is present in a clinical sample of body fluid. The quantitative assay can be performed by including dilutions of purified PAM4 antigen.

The anti-pancreatic cancer MAbs, fusion proteins, and fragments thereof also are suited for the preparation of an assay kit. Such a kit may comprise a carrier means that is compartmentalized to receive in close confinement one or more container means such as vials, tubes and the like, each of said container means comprising the separate elements of the immunoassay.

The subject antibodies, antibody fragments and fusion proteins also can be used to detect the presence of the PAM4 antigen in tissue sections prepared from a histological specimen. Such in situ detection can be used to determine the presence of the PAM4 antigen and to determine the distribution of the PAM4 antigen in the examined tissue. In situ detection can be accomplished by applying a detectably-labeled antibody to frozen tissue sections. Studies indicate that the PAM4 antigen is preserved in paraffin-embedded sections. General techniques of in situ detection are well-known to those of ordinary skill. See, for example, Ponder, “Cell Marking Techniques and Their Application,” in MAMMALIAN DEVELOPMENT: A PRACTICAL APPROACH 113-38 Monk (ed.) (IRL Press 1987), and Coligan at pages 5.8.1-5.8.8.

Antibodies, antibody fragments and fusion proteins can be detectably labeled with any appropriate marker moiety, for example, a radioisotope, an enzyme, a fluorescent label, a dye, a chromogen, a chemiluminescent label, a bioluminescent labels or a paramagnetic label.

The marker moiety can be a radioisotope that is detected by such means as the use of a gamma counter or a scintillation counter or by autoradiography. In a preferred embodiment, the diagnostic conjugate is a gamma-, beta- or a positron-emitting isotope. A marker moiety in the present description refers to a molecule that will generate a signal under predetermined conditions. Examples of marker moieties include radioisotopes, enzymes, fluorescent labels, chemiluminescent labels, bioluminescent labels and paramagnetic labels.

The binding of marker moieties to anti-pancreatic cancer antibodies can be accomplished using standard techniques known to the art. Typical methodology in this regard is described by Kennedy et al., Clin Chim Acta 70:1 (1976), Schurs et al., Clin. Chim. Acta 81:1 (1977), Shih et al., Int J Cancer 46: 1101 (1990).

The above-described in vitro and in situ detection methods may be used to assist in the diagnosis or staging of a pathological condition. For example, such methods can be used to detect tumors that express the PAM4 antigen such as pancreatic cancer.

In Vivo Diagnosis/Detection

Various methods of in vivo diagnostic imaging with radiolabeled MAbs are well-known. In the technique of immunoscintigraphy, for example, antibodies are labeled with a gamma-emitting radioisotope and introduced into a patient. A gamma camera is used to detect the location and distribution of gamma-emitting radioisotopes. See, for example, Srivastava (ed.), RADIOLABELED MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES FOR IMAGING AND THERAPY (Plenum Press 1988), Chase, “Medical Applications of Radioisotopes,” in REMINGTON′S PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, 18th Edition, Gennaro et al. (eds.), pp. 624-652 (Mack Publishing Co., 1990), and Brown, “Clinical Use of Monoclonal Antibodies,” in BIOTECHNOLOGY AND PHARMACY 227-49, Pezzuto et al. (eds.) (Chapman & Hall 1993).

For diagnostic imaging, radioisotopes may be bound to antibody either directly or indirectly by using an intermediary functional group. Useful intermediary functional groups include chelators such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. For example, see Shih et al., supra, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,313.

The radiation dose delivered to the patient is maintained at as low a level as possible through the choice of isotope for the best combination of minimum half-life, minimum retention in the body, and minimum quantity of isotope which will permit detection and accurate measurement. Examples of radioisotopes that can be bound to anti-pancreatic cancer antibody and are appropriate for diagnostic imaging include ^(99m)Tc, ¹¹¹In and ¹⁸F.

The subject antibodies, antibody fragments and fusion proteins also can be labeled with paramagnetic ions and a variety of radiological contrast agents for purposes of in vivo diagnosis. Contrast agents that are particularly useful for magnetic resonance imaging comprise gadolinium, manganese, dysprosium, lanthanum, or iron ions. Additional agents include chromium, copper, cobalt, nickel, rhenium, europium, terbium, holmium, or neodymium. Antibodies and fragments thereof can also be conjugated to ultrasound contrast/enhancing agents. For example, one ultrasound contrast agent is a liposome. Also preferred, the ultrasound contrast agent is a liposome that is gas filled.

In a preferred embodiment, a bispecific antibody can be conjugated to a contrast agent. For example, the bispecific antibody may comprise more than one image-enhancing agent for use in ultrasound imaging. In another preferred embodiment, the contrast agent is a liposome. Preferably, the liposome comprises a bivalent DTPA-peptide covalently attached to the outside surface of the liposome.

Pharmaceutically Suitable Excipients

Additional pharmaceutical methods may be employed to control the duration of action of an anti-pancreatic cancer antibody in a therapeutic application. Control release preparations can be prepared through the use of polymers to complex or adsorb the antibody, antibody fragment or fusion protein. For example, biocompatible polymers include matrices of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) and matrices of a polyanhydride copolymer of a stearic acid dimer and sebacic acid. Sherwood et al., Bio/Technology 10: 1446 (1992). The rate of release of an antibody, antibody fragment or fusion protein from such a matrix depends upon the molecular weight of the antibody, antibody fragment or fusion protein, the amount of antibody within the matrix, and the size of dispersed particles. Saltzman et al., Biophys. J. 55: 163 (1989); Sherwood et al., supra. Other solid dosage forms are described in Ansel et al., PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORMS AND DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS, 5th Edition (Lea & Febiger 1990), and Gennaro (ed.), REMINGTON'S PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, 18th Edition (Mack Publishing Company 1990), and revised editions thereof.

The antibodies, fragments thereof or fusion proteins to be delivered to a subject can comprise one or more pharmaceutically suitable excipients, one or more additional ingredients, or some combination of these. The antibody can be formulated according to known methods to prepare pharmaceutically useful compositions, whereby the immunoconjugate or naked antibody is combined in a mixture with a pharmaceutically suitable excipient. Sterile phosphate-buffered saline is one example of a pharmaceutically suitable excipient. Other suitable excipients are well-known to those in the art. See, for example, Ansel et al., PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORMS AND DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS, 5th Edition (Lea & Febiger 1990), and Gennaro (ed.), REMINGTON'S PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, 18th Edition (Mack Publishing Company 1990), and revised editions thereof.

The immunoconjugate or naked antibody can be formulated for intravenous administration via, for example, bolus injection or continuous infusion. Formulations for injection can be presented in unit dosage form, e.g., in ampules or in multi-dose containers, with an added preservative. The compositions can take such forms as suspensions, solutions or emulsions in oily or aqueous vehicles, and can contain formulatory agents such as suspending, stabilizing and/or dispersing agents. Alternatively, the active ingredient can be in powder form for constitution with a suitable vehicle, e.g., sterile pyrogen-free water, before use.

The immunoconjugate, naked antibody, fragment thereof or fusion protein may also be administered to a mammal subcutaneously or by other parenteral routes. In a preferred embodiment, the antibody or fragment thereof is administered in a dosage of 20 to 2000 milligrams protein per dose. Moreover, the administration may be by continuous infusion or by single or multiple boluses. In general, the dosage of an administered immunoconjugate, fusion protein or naked antibody for humans will vary depending upon such factors as the patient's age, weight, height, sex, general medical condition and previous medical history. Typically, it is desirable to provide the recipient with a dosage of immunoconjugate, antibody fusion protein or naked antibody that is in the range of from about 1 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg as a single intravenous or infusion, although a lower or higher dosage also may be administered as circumstances dictate. This dosage may be repeated as needed, for example, once per week for four to ten weeks, preferably once per week for eight weeks, and more preferably, once per week for four weeks. It may also be given less frequently, such as every other week for several months, or more frequently, such as two- or three-time weekly. The dosage may be given through various parenteral routes, with appropriate adjustment of the dose and schedule.

Kits

Various embodiments may concern kits containing components suitable for treating or diagnosing diseased tissue in a patient. Exemplary kits may contain at least one antibody, antigen binding fragment or fusion protein as described herein. If the composition containing components for administration is not formulated for delivery via the alimentary canal, such as by oral delivery, a device capable of delivering the kit components through some other route may be included. One type of device, for applications such as parenteral delivery, is a syringe that is used to inject the composition into the body of a subject. Inhalation devices may also be used. In certain embodiments, an anti-pancreatic cancer antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof may be provided in the form of a prefilled syringe or autoinjection pen containing a sterile, liquid formulation or lyophilized preparation of antibody (e.g., Kivitz et al., Clin. Ther. 2006, 28:1619-29).

The kit components may be packaged together or separated into two or more containers. In some embodiments, the containers may be vials that contain sterile, lyophilized formulations of a composition that are suitable for reconstitution. A kit may also contain one or more buffers suitable for reconstitution and/or dilution of other reagents. Other containers that may be used include, but are not limited to, a pouch, tray, box, tube, or the like. Kit components may be packaged and maintained sterilely within the containers. Another component that can be included is instructions for use of the kit.

EXAMPLES

The examples below are illustrative of embodiments of the current invention and are not limiting to the scope of the claims. The examples discuss studies employing an exemplary anti-pancreatic cancer monoclonal antibody (e.g., PAM4). Clinical studies with the PAM4 MAb have shown that a majority of pancreatic cancer lesions were targeted in patients and there was no indication of uptake in normal tissues. Dosimetry indicated that it was possible to deliver 10 to 20 cGy/mCi to tumors, with a tumor to red marrow dose ratio of 3:1 to 10:1. The data show that PAM4 is useful for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Example 1 Humanized PAM4 MAb

In preferred embodiments, the claimed methods and compositions utilize the antibody hPAM4 which is a humanized IgG of the murine PAM4 MAb raised against pancreatic cancer mucin. Humanization of the murine PAM4 sequences was utilized to reduce the human antimouse antibody (HAMA) response. To produce the humanized PAM4, murine complementarity determining regions (CDR) were transferred from heavy and light variable chains of the mouse immunoglobulin into human framework region (FR) antibody sequences, followed by the replacement of some human FR residues with their murine counterparts. Humanized monoclonal antibodies are suitable for use in in vitro and in vivo diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

Comparison of the variable region framework sequences of the murine PAM4 MAb (FIGS. 1A and 1B) to known human antibodies in the Kabat database showed that the FRs of PAM4 V_(K) and V_(H) exhibited the highest degree of sequence homology to that of the human antibodies Walker V_(K) and Wil2 V_(H), respectively. Therefore, the Walker V_(K) and Wi12 V_(H) FRs were selected as the human frameworks into which the murine CDRs for PAM4 V_(K) and V_(H) were grafted, respectively (FIG. 3). The FR4 sequence of the human antibody, NEWM, however, was used to replace the Wi12 FR4 sequence for the humanization of the PAM4 heavy chain (FIG. 3B). A few amino acid residues in PAM4 FRs that flank the putative CDRs were maintained in hPAM4 based on the consideration that these residues have more impact on Ag binding than other FR residues. These residues were 21M, 47W, 59P, 60A, 85S, 87F, and 100G of V_(K) and 27Y, 30P, 38K, 48I, 66K, 67A, and 69 L of V_(H). The DNA and amino acid sequences of hPAM4 V_(K) (SEQ ID NO:16) and V_(H) (SEQ ID NO:19) are shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively.

A modified strategy as described by Leung et al. (Leung et al., 1994)) was used to construct the designed V_(K) and V_(H) genes (FIG. 4) for hPAM4 using a combination of long oligonucleotide syntheses and PCR. For the construction of the hPAM4 V_(H) domain, two long oligonucleotides, hPAM4 V_(H) A (173-mer) and hPAM4 V_(H) B (173-mer) were synthesized on an automated DNA synthesizer (Applied Biosystems).

hPAM4 V_(H) A represents nt 17 to 189 of the hPAM4 V_(H) domain.

(SEQ ID NO: 54) 5′-AGTCTGGGGC TGAGGTGAAG AAGCCTGGGG CCTCAGTGAA  GGTCTCCTGC GAGGCTTCTG GATACACATT CCCTAGCTAT  GTTTTGCACT GGGTGAAGCA GGCCCCTGGA CAAGGGCTTG  AGTGGATTGG ATATATTAAT CCTTACAATG ATGGTACTCA  GTACAATGAG AAG-3′

hPAM4 V_(H)B represents the minus strand of the hPAM4 V_(H) domain complementary to nt 169 to 341.

(SEQ ID NO: 55) 5′-AGGGTTCCCT GGCCCCAGTA AGCAAATCCG TAGCTACCAC  CGAAGCCTCT TGCACAGTAA TACACGGCCG TGTCGTCAGA  TCTCAGCCTG CTCAGCTCCA TGTAGGCTGT GTTGATGGAC  GTGTCCCTGG TCAGTGTGGC CTTGCCTTTG AACTTCTCAT  TGTACTGAGT ACC-3′

The 3′-terminal sequences (21 nt residues) of hPAM4 V_(H)A and V_(H)B are complementary to each other. Under defined PCR condition, the 3′-ends of hPAM4 V_(H)A and V_(H)B anneal to form a short double stranded DNA flanked by the rest of the long oligonucleotides. Each annealed end serves as a primer for the transcription of the single stranded DNA, resulting in a double strand DNA composed of the nt 17 to 341 of hPAM4 V_(H). This DNA was further amplified in the presence of two short oligonucleotides, hPAM4 V_(H)BACK and hPAM4 V_(H)FOR to form the full-length hPAM4 V_(H). The underlined portions are restriction sites for subcloning as shown in FIG. 4B.

hPAM4 V_(H)BACK (SEQ ID NO: 56) 5′-CAG GTG CAG CTG CAG CAG TCT GGG GCT GAG GTG A-3′ hPAM4 V_(H)FOR (SEQ ID NO: 57) 5′-TGA GGA GAC GGT GAC CAG GGT TCC CTG GCC CCA-3′

A minimal amount of hPAM4 V_(H)A and V_(H)B (determined empirically) was amplified in the presence of 10 μL of 10×PCR Buffer (500 mM KCl, 100 mM Tris HCl buffer, pH 8.3, 15 mM MgCl₂), 2 μmol of hPAM4 V_(H)BACK and hPAM4 V_(K)FOR, and 2.5 units of Taq DNA polymerase (Perkin Elmer Cetus, Norwalk, Conn.). This reaction mixture was subjected to three cycles of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) consisting of denaturation at 94° C. for 1 minute, annealing at 45° C. for 1 minute, and polymerization at 72° C. for 1.5 minutes. This procedure was followed by 27 cycles of PCR reaction consisting of denaturation at 94° C. for 1 minute, annealing at 55° C. for 1 minute, and polymerization at 72° C. for 1 minute. Double-stranded PCR-amplified product for hPAM4 V_(H) was gel-purified, restriction-digested with PstI and BstEII restriction sites and cloned into the complementary PstI/BstEII restriction sites of the heavy chain staging vector, V_(H)pBS2, in which the V_(H) sequence was fully assembled with the DNA sequence encoding the translation initiation codon and a secretion signal peptide in-frame ligated at the 5′-end and an intron sequence at the 3′-end. V_(H)pBS2 is a modified staging vector of V_(H)pBS (Leung et al., Hybridoma, 13:469, 1994), into which a XhoI restriction site was introduced at sixteen bases upstream of the translation initiation codon to facilitate the next subcloning step. The assembled V_(H) gene was subcloned as a XhoI-BamHI restriction fragment into the expression vector, pdHL2, which contains the expression cassettes for both human IgG heavy and light chains under the control of IgH enhancer and MT1 promoter, as well as a mouse d/fr gene as a marker for selection and amplification. Since the heavy chain region of pdHL2 lacks a BamHI restriction site, this ligation requires use of a linker to provide a bridge between the BamHI site of the variable chain and the HindIII site present in the pdHL2 vector. The resulting expression vectors were designated as hPAM4 V_(H)pdHL2.

For constructing the full length DNA of the humanized VK sequence, hPAM4 V_(K)A (157-mer) and hPAM4 V_(K)B (156-mer) were synthesized as described above. hPAM4 V_(K)A and V_(K)B were amplified by two short oligonucleotides hPAM4 V_(K)BACK and hPAM4 V_(K)FOR as described above.

hPAM4 V_(K)A represents nt 16 to 172 of the hPAM4 V_(K) domain.

(SEQ ID NO: 58) 5′-CAGTCTCCAT CCTCCCTGTC TGCATCTGTA GGAGACAGAG  TCACCATGAC CTGCAGTGCC AGCTCAAGTG TAAGTTCCAG  CTACTTGTAC TGGTACCAAC AGAAACCAGG GAAAGCCCCC  AAACTCTGGA TTTATAGCAC ATCCAACCTG GCTTCTG-3′

hPAM4 V_(K)B represents the minus strand of the hPAM4 V_(K) domain complementary to nt 153 to 308.

(SEQ ID NO: 59) 5′-GTCCCCCCTC CGAACGTGTA CGGGTACCTA TTCCACTGAT GGCAGAAATA AGAGGCAGAA TCTTCAGGTT GCAGACTGCT GATGGTGAGA GTGAAGTCTG TCCCAGATCC ACTGCCACTG AAGCGAGCAG GGACTCCAGA AGCCAGGTTG GATGTG-3′

The 3′-terminal sequences (20 nt residues) of hPAM4 V_(K)A and V_(K)B are complementary to each other. Under defined PCR condition, the 3′-ends of hPAM4 V_(K)A and V_(K)B anneal to form a short double-stranded DNA flanked by the rest of the long oligonucleotides. Each annealed end served as a primer for the transcription of the single stranded DNA, resulting in a double strand DNA composed of nt 16 to 308 of hPAM4 V_(K). This DNA was further amplified in the presence of two short oligonucleotides, hPAM4 V_(K)BACK and hPAM4 V_(K)FOR to form the full-length hPAM4 V_(K). The underlined portions are restriction sites for subcloning as described below.

hPAM4 V_(K)BACK (SEQ ID NO: 60) 5′-GAC ATC CAG CTG ACC CAG TCT CCA TCC TCC CTG-3′ hPAM4 V_(K)FOR (SEQ ID NO: 61) 5′-TTA GAT CTC CAG TCG TGT CCC CCC TCC GAA CGT-3′

Gel-purified PCR products for hPAM4 V_(K) were restriction-digested with PvuII and BglII and cloned into the complementary PvuII/Bc10 sites of the light chain staging vector, V_(K)pBR2. V_(K)pBR2 is a modified staging vector of V_(K)pBR (Leung et al., Hybridoma, 13:469, 1994), into which a XbaI restriction site was introduced at sixteen bases upstream of the translation initiation codon. The assembled Vic genes were subcloned as XbaI-BamHI restriction fragments into the expression vector containing the V_(H) sequence, hPAM4 V_(H)pdHL2. The resulting expression vectors were designated as hPAM4pdHL2.

Approximately 30 μg of hPAM4pdHL2 was linearized by digestion with SalI and transfected into Sp2/0-Ag14 cells by electroporation at 450 V and 25 μF. The transfected cells were plated into 96-well plates and incubated in a CO₂ cell culture incubator for two days and then selected for MTX resistance. Colonies surviving selection emerged in two to three weeks and were screened for human antibody secretion by ELISA assay. Briefly, supernatants (˜100 ul) from the surviving colonies were added into the wells of an ELISA microplate precoated with goat anti-human IgG F(ab′)₂ fragment-specific Ab. The plate was incubated for one hour at room temperature. Unbound proteins were removed by washing three times with wash buffer (PBS containing 0.05% Tween-20). Horseradish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-human IgG Fc fragment-specific Ab was added to the wells. Following incubation for one hour, a substrate solution (100 μL/well) containing 4 mM o-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (OPD) and 0.04% H₂O₂ in PBS was added to the wells after washing. Color was allowed to develop in the dark for 30 minutes and the reaction was stopped by the addition of 50 μL of 4 NH₂SO₄ solution. The bound human IgG was measured by reading the absorbance at 490 nm on an ELISA reader. Positive cell clones were expanded and hPAM4 was purified from cell culture supernatant by affinity chromatography on a Protein A column.

The Ag-binding activity of hPAM4 was confirmed by ELISA assay in a microtiter plate coated with pancreas cancer cell extracts. An ELISA competitive binding assay using PAM4-antigen coated plates was developed to assess the Ag-binding affinity of hPAM4 in comparison with that of a chimeric PAM4 composed of murine V and human C domains. Constant amounts of the HRP-conjugated cPAM4 mixed with varying concentrations of cPAM4 or hPAM4 were added to the coated wells and incubated at room temperature for 1-2 h. The amount of HRP-conjugated cPAM4 bound to the CaPan1 Ag was revealed by reading the absorbance at 490 nm after the addition of a substrate solution containing 4 mM o-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride and 0.04% H₂O₂. As shown by the competition assays in FIG. 4, hPAM4 and cPAM4 antibodies exhibited similar binding activities.

Example 2 Immunohistochemistry Staining Studies

Immunohistochemistry on normal adult tissues showed that the PAM4 reactive epitope was restricted to the gastrointestinal tract where staining was weak, yet positive (Table 2). Normal pancreatic tissue, including ducts, ductules, acini, and islet cells, were negative for staining. A PAM4 based enzyme immunoassay with tissue homogenates as antigens generally supported the immunohistology data (Table 3). The PAM4 epitope was absent from normal pancreas and other non-gastrointestinal tissues. In neoplastic tissues, PAM4 was reactive with twenty one out of twenty five (85%) pancreatic cancers (Table 4 and Table 5) and ten out of twenty six colon cancers, but only limited reactivity with tumors of the stomach, lung, breast, ovary, prostate, liver or kidney (Table 5). PAM4 reactivity appeared to correlate with the stage of tumor differentiation, with a greater percentage of staining observed in well differentiated pancreatic cancers than in moderately differentiated or poorly differentiated tumors. Generally, poorly differentiated tumors represent less than 10% of all pancreatic cancers.

These studies have shown the PAM4 reactivity and tissue distribution (both normal and cancer) to be unlike that reported for the CA19.9, DUPAN2, SPAN1, Nd2 and B72.3 antibodies and antibodies against the Lewis antigens. Together with crossblocking studies performed with certain of these MAbs, the data suggests that the PAM4 MAb recognizes a unique and novel epitope. When compared to the antigens recognized by the CA19.9, DUPAN2, and anti-Le^(a) antibodies, the PAM4 antigen appears to be more restricted in its tissue distribution and is reactive with a higher percentage of pancreatic tumors. Moreover, it gives a greater overall intensity of reaction at equivalent concentrations and is reactive with a higher percentage of cells within the pancreatic tumors. Finally, PAM4 was found to be only weakly reactive with three out of twelve chronic pancreatitis specimens, whereas CA19.9 and DUPAN2 were strongly reactive with all twelve specimens. Although it is recognized that specificity is dependent in part upon the type of assay employed and the range and number of tissues examined, the ability of PAM4 to discriminate between normal and neoplastic pancreatic tissue, its ability to react with a large percentage of the cancer specimens, the high intensity of the reactions, and the ability to distinguish between early stage pancreatic cancer and benign conditions such as pancreatitis are important characteristics of this exemplary anti-pancreatic cancer antibody.

TABLE 2 Immunoperoxidase Staining of Normal Adult Tissues with MAb PAM4 Staining Tissue Reaction Pancreas (22)^(a) − Ducts − Acini − Islets − Submaxillary gland (2) − Esophagus (2) − Stomach (3) +mucus secreting cells Duodenum (3) +goblet cells Jejunum (3) +goblet cells Ileum (3) +goblet cells Colon (5) +goblet cells Liver (3) − Gallbladder (2) − Bronchus (3) − Lung (3) − Heart (3) − Spleen (3) − Kidney (3) − Bladder (3) − Prostate (2) − Testes (2) − Uterus (2) − Ovary (2) − ^(a)number of individual specimens examined in parentheses

TABLE 3 Monoclonal Antibody PAM4 Reactivity with Normal Adult Tissue Homogenates by EIA Tissue μg/g tissue^(a) Pancreas 6.4 Esophagus 8.1 Stomach 61.3 Duodenum 44.7 Jejunum 60.6 Colon 74.5 Liver 0.0 Gallbladder 5.6 Heart 3.7 Spleen 3.4 Kidney 6.6 Bladder 4.9 Thyroid 3.5 Adrenal 1.3 Ureter 2.6 Testes 3.9 CaPan1 Pancreatic Tumor 569 ^(a)values are mean from two autopsy specimens

TABLE 4 Immunohistochemical Reactivity of Several Monoclonal Antibodies with Pancreatic Tumors Differentiation PAM4 CA19.9 Le^(a) DUPAN2 1 W +++ − − +++ 2 M ++ +++ +++ + 3 M + − + + 4 M +++ +++ +++ + 5 M ++ + − − 6 M + ND ND ND 7 M* +++ +++ +++ +++ 8 M + − − +++ 9 M ++ + ++ − 10 M* ++ ++ ++ +++ 11 M ++ +++ +++ + 12 M ++ + + +++ 13 M + +++ +++ + 14 M ++ + + ++ 15 M +++ + + ++ 16 M + + ++ − 17 M − + + − 18 M ++ ++ ++ ++ 19 M +++ + +++ ++ 20 M + − − − 21 M +++ +++ + ++ 22 P + + + +++ 23 P − − − − 24 P − − − − 25 P − − + − TOTAL 21/25 17/24 18/24 16/24 −: Negative; +: 5-20% of tissue is stained; ++: 21-50% of tissue is stained; +++: >50% of tissue is stained; W, M, P: Well, moderate, or poor differentiation; *Metastatic tissue; ND: Not Done

TABLE 5 Immunoperoxidase Staining of Neoplastic Tissues with MAb PAM4 Cancer Tissue Positive/Total Pancreas 21/25 Colon 10/26 Stomach 1/5 Lung  1/15 Breast  0/30 Ovarian  0/10 Prostate 0/4 Liver  0/10 Kidney 0/4

Example 3 In Vivo Biodistribution and Tumor Targeting of Radiolabeled PAM4

Initial biodistribution studies of PAM4 were carried out in a series of four different xenografted human pancreatic tumors covering the range of expected differentiation. Each of the four tumor lines employed, AsPc1, BxPc3, Hs766T and CaPan1, exhibited concentrations of ¹³¹I-PAM4 within the tumors (range: 21%-48% ID/g on day three) that were significantly (P<0.01-0.001) higher than concomitantly administered nonspecific, isotype-matched Ag8 antibody (range: 3.6%-9.3% ID/g on day three). The biodistribution data were used to estimate potential radiation doses to the tumor of 12,230; 10,684; 6,835; and 15,843 cGy/mCi of injected dose to AsPc1, BxPc3, Hs766T and CaPanl, respectively. With an actual maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of 0.7 mCi, PAM4 could provide substantial rad dose to each of the xenografted tumor models. In each tumor line the blood levels of radiolabeled PAM4 were significantly (P<0.01-0.001) lower than the nonspecific Ag8. Potential radiation doses to the blood from PAM4 were 1.4-4.4 fold lower than from Ag8. When radiation doses to the tumor from PAM4 were normalized to the blood doses from PAM4, the tumors received doses that were 2.2; 3.3; 3.4; and 13.1-fold higher than blood, respectively. Importantly, potential radiation doses to non-tumor tissues were minimal.

The biodistribution of PAM4 was compared with an anti-CEA antibody, MN-14, using the CaPan1 tumor model. The concentration of PAM4 within the tumor was much greater than MN-14 at early timepoints, yielding tumor:blood ratios at day three of 12.7±2.3 for PAM4 compared to 2.7±1.9 for MN-14. Although PAM4 uptake within the tumor was significantly higher than for MN-14 at early timepoints (day one—P<0.001; day three—P<0.01), dosimetry analyses indicated only a 3.2-fold higher dose to the tumor from PAM4 as compared to MN-14 over the fourteen day study period. This was due to a rapid clearance of PAM4 from the tumor, such that at later timepoints similar concentrations of the two antibodies were present within the tumors. A rapid clearance of PAM4 from the tumor was also noted in the BxPc3 and Hs766T but not AsPc1 tumor models. These observations were unlike those reported for other anti-mucin antibodies, as for example G9 and B72.3 in colorectal cancer, where each exhibited longer retention times as compared to the MN-14 antibody. Results from studies on the metabolism of PAM4, indicate that after initial binding to the tumor cell, antibody is rapidly released, possibly being catabolized or being shed as an antigen:antibody complex. The blood clearance is also very rapid. These data suggest that ¹³¹I may not be the appropriate choice of isotope for therapeutic applications. A short-lived isotope, such as ⁹⁰Y or ¹⁸⁸Re, which can be administered frequently may be a more effective reagent.

PAM4 showed no evidence of targeting to normal tissues, except in the CaPan1 tumor model, where a small but statistically significant splenic uptake was observed (range 3.1-7.5% ID/g on day-3). This type of splenic targeting has been observed in the clinical application of the anti-mucin antibodies B72.3 and CC49. Importantly, these studies also reported that splenic targeting did not affect tumor uptake of antibody nor did it interfere with interpretation of the nuclear scans. These studies suggested that splenic targeting was not due to crossreactive antigens in the spleen, nor to binding by Fc receptors, but rather to one or more of the following possibilities: direct targeting of antigen trapped in the spleen, or indirect uptake of antigen:antibody complexes formed either in the blood or released from the tumor site. The latter would require the presence of immune complexes in the blood. However, these were not observed when specimens as early as five minutes and as late as seven days were examined by gel filtration (HPLC, GF-250 column); radiolabeled antibody eluted as native material. The former explanation seems more likely in view of the fact that the CaPan1 tumor produced large quantities of PAM4-reactive antigen, 100- to 1000-fold higher than for the other tumor cell lines examined. The lack of splenic targeting by PAM4 in these other tumor lines suggests that this phenomenon was related to excessive antigen production. Splenic targeting can be overcome by increasing the protein dose to 10 μg from the original 2 μg dose. A greater amount of the splenic entrapped antigen presumably was complexed with unlabeled PAM4 rather than radiolabeled antibody. Increasing the protein dose had no adverse effect upon targeting of PAM4 to the tumor or nontumor tissues. In fact, an increase of the protein dose to 100 μg more than doubled the concentration of radiolabeled PAM4 within the CaPan1 tumor.

Example 4 Development of Orthotopic Pancreatic Tumor Model in Athymic Nude Mice

In order to resemble the clinical presentation of pancreatic cancer in an animal model more closely, we developed an orthotopic model by injecting tumor cells directly into the head of the pancreas. Orthotopic CaPan1 tumors grew progressively without overt symptoms until the development of ascites and death at ten to fourteen weeks. By three to four weeks post-implantation, animals developed a palpable tumor of approximately 0.2 g. Within eight weeks of growth, primary tumors of approximately 1.2 g along with metastases to the liver and spleen were observed (1-3 metastatic tumors/animal; each tumor <0.1 g). At ten to fourteen weeks seeding of the diaphragm with development of ascites were evident. Ascites formation and occasional jaundice were usually the first overt indications of tumor growth. At this time tumors were quite large, 1 to 2 g, and animals had at most only three to four weeks until death occurred.

Radiolabeled ¹³¹I-PAM4, administered to animals bearing four week old orthotopic tumors (approximately 0.2 g) showed specific targeting to the primary tumor with localization indices of 7.9±3.0 at day one increasing to 22.8±15.3 at day fourteen. No evidence of specific targeting to other tissues was noted. In one case where tumor metastases to the liver and spleen were observed, both metastases were targeted, and had high concentrations of radiolabeled antibody. In addition, approximately half of the animals developed a subcutaneous tumor at the incision site. No significant differences were noted in the targeting of orthotopic and subcutaneous tumors within the same animal, and no significant differences were observed in the targeting of orthotopic tumor whether or not the animal had an additional subcutaneous tumor. The estimated radiation doses from PAM4 were 6,704 and 1,655 cGy/mCi to the primary tumor and blood, respectively.

Example 5 Experimental Radioimmunotherapy of Pancreatic Cancer

The initial studies on the use of ¹³¹I-PAM4 for therapy were carried out with the CaPan1 tumor, which was grown as a subcutaneous xenograft in athymic mice. Animals bearing a 0.25 g tumor were administered 350 μCi, ¹³¹I-PAM4 in an experiment that also compared the therapeutic effects of a similar dose of nonspecific Ag8. The MTD for administration of ¹³¹I-PAM4 to animals bearing 1 cm³ tumors is 700 μCi. By weeks five and six, the PAM4 treated animals showed a dramatic regression of tumor, and even at week twenty seven, five out of eight remained tumor free. The untreated, as well as Ag8-treated animals, showed rapid progression of tumor growth although a significant difference was noted between these two control groups. At seven weeks, tumors from the untreated group had grown 20.0±14.6-fold from the initial timepoint whereas the ¹³¹I—Ag8-treated tumors had grown only 4.9±1.8-fold. At this time point, the PAM4 tumors had regressed to 0.1±0.1-fold of their original size, a significant difference from both untreated (P<0.001) and nonspecific Ag8-treated (P <0.01) animals.

These data show that CaPan1 tumors were sensitive to treatment with ¹³¹I-PAM4. The outcome, that is, regression or progression of the tumor, was dependent upon several factors including initial tumor size. Thus, groups of animals bearing CaPan1 tumor burdens of 0.25 g, 0.5 g, 1.0 g, or 2.0 g were treated with a single dose of the 350 μCi ¹³¹I-PAM4. The majority of animals having tumors of initial size 0.25 g and 0.5 g (nine of ten animals in each group) showed tumor regression or growth inhibition for at least sixteen weeks post treatment. In the 1.0 g tumor group five out of seven showed no tumor growth for the sixteen week period and in the 2.0 g tumor group six out of nine showed no tumor growth for a period of six weeks before progression occurred. Although a single 350 pEi dose was not as effective against larger tumors, a single dose may not be the appropriate regimen for large tumors.

Toxicity studies indicate the ability to give multiple cycles of radioimmunotherapy, which may be more effective with a larger tumor burden. Animals bearing CaPan1 tumors averaging 1.0 g, were given either a single dose of 350 μCi ¹³¹I-PAM4, two doses given at times zero and four weeks or were left untreated. The untreated group had a mean survival time of 3.7±1.0 weeks (survival defined as time for tumor to reach 5 cm³). Animals died as early as three weeks, with no animal surviving past six weeks. A single dose of 350 μCi ¹³¹I-PAM4 produced a significant increase in the survival time to 18.8±4.2 weeks (P<0.0001). The range of animal deaths extended from weeks thirteen to twenty five. None of the animals were alive at the end of the study period of twenty six weeks.

A significant increase in survival time was observed for the two dose group as compared to the single dose group. Half of the animals were alive at the twenty six week timepoint with tumor sizes from 1.0-2.8 cm³, and a mean tumor growth rate of 1.6±0.7 fold from initial tumor size. For those animals that were non-survivors at twenty six weeks, the mean survival time (17.7±5.3 weeks) was similar to the single dose group.

Therapy studies with PAM4 were also conducted using the orthotopic tumor model. Groups of animals bearing four week old orthotopic tumors (estimated tumor weight of 0.25 g) were either left untreated or treated with a single dose of either 350 μCi ¹³¹I-PAM4 or 350 of ¹³¹I-nonspecific Ag8. The untreated animals had a 50% death rate by week ten with no survivors at week fifteen. Animals administered nonspecific ¹³¹I—Ag8 at four weeks of tumor growth, showed a 50% death rate at week seven with no survivors at week fourteen. Although statistically (logrank analysis) there were no differences between these two groups, it is possible that radiation toxicity had occurred in the Ag8 treated animals. Radiolabeled PAM4 provided a significant survival advantage (P<0.001) as compared to the untreated or Ag8 treated animals, with 70% survival at sixteen weeks, the end of the experiment. At this time the surviving animals were sacrificed to determine tumor size. All animals had tumor with an average weight of 1.2 g, as well as one or two small (<0.1 g) metastases evident in four of the seven animals. At sixteen weeks of growth, these tumors were more representative of an eight-week-old tumor.

Example 6 Combined Modality GEMZAR® Chemotherapy and ¹³¹I-PAM4 Experimental Radioimmunotherapy

Initial studies into the combined use of gemcitabine (GEMZAR®) with ¹³¹I-PAM4 radioimmunotherapy were performed as a checkerboard array; a single dose of gemcitabine (0, 100, 200, 500 mg/kg) versus a single dose of ¹³¹I-PAM4 ([MTD=700 μCi] 100%, 75%, 50%, 0% of the MTD). The combined MTD was found to be 500 mg/kg gemcitabine with 350 μCi ¹³¹I-PAM4 (50% MTD). Toxicity, as measured by loss of body weight, went to the maximum considered as nontoxic; that is 20% loss in body weight. Although the combined treatment protocol was significantly more effective than gemcitabine alone, the treatment was no more effective than radioimmunotherapy alone. The next studies were performed at a low dose of gemcitabine and radioimmunotherapy to examine if a true synergistic therapeutic effect would be observed. Athymic nude mice bearing tumors of approximately 1 cm³ (approximately 5% of body weight) were administered gemcitabine, 100 mg/kg on days zero, three, six, nine, and twelve, with 100 μCi of ¹³¹I-PAM4 given on day zero. A therapeutic effect was observed with statistically significant (P<0.0001) regression (two of five tumors less than 0.1 cm³) and/or growth inhibition of the tumors compared to gemcitabine alone. Thus, at lower dosages of therapeutic agent, there surprisingly appears to be a synergistic effect of the combination of gemcitabine and radioimmunotherapy. Of additional note, in terms of body weight, toxicity was not observed. The combination treatment protocol can, if necessary, be delivered in multiple cycles, with the second treatment cycle beginning in week-four, as was done with the radioimmunotherapy-alone studies described above.

Example 7 Binding of PAM4 Antibodies to Transfected Cell Lines

Transfected Pancreatic Cells

PanC1 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells that do not express the MUC-1 mucin were transfected with MUC-1 encoding cDNA as disclosed in Hudson et al. (Amer. J. Pathol. 148, 3:951-60, 1996) and obtained from Dr. M. A. Hollingsworth (Univ. of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebr.). The MUC-1 cDNAs encoded either 30 tandem repeat (30TR) or 42 tandem repeat (42TR) versions of MUC-1 (Hudson et al., 1996; Lidell et al, FEBS J. 275:481-89, 2008). The MUC-1 sequences were identical other than in the number of tandem repeat sequences encoded.

PanC1 cells transfected with either 30TR or 42TR MUC-1 or control vectors (no insert or reversed insert) or untransfected PanC1 cells were examined for reactivity with PAM4 antibody by enzyme immunoassay of the supernatants from cell culture. Neither the untransfected PanC1 cells nor the control transfected PanC1 cells produced detectable levels of PAM4-reactive mucins by immunoassay (not shown). However, both the 30TR and 42TR MUC-1 transfected cells were highly reactive with PAM4 antibody (not shown).

The transfected PanC1 cells were reexamined using a more sensitive immunoassay. Briefly, cells were grown in T75 flasks until they reached approximately 80%-90% confluency (˜4-5 days from initial seeding). At this time, the spent-media were collected, centrifuged at high speed, and used for quantitation of PAM4-reactive mucin by enzyme immunoassay. The cells were also collected and counted. Both the Panc1 parent cell line originating from Dr. Hollingsworth and a separate Panel cell line obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, Va.), as well as the vector control, produced low, but detectable quantities of PAM4-reactive mucin (0.87±0.17, 0.54±0.17 and 0.02±0.02 μg/mL/10⁶ cells, respectively), whereas the 30TR-MUC-1 gene transfected cells produced 14.17*2.22 μg/mL/10⁶ cells (P<0.0003 or better for comparison of 30TR-MUC-1 gene transfected media compared to all other samples).

It has been reported that transfection of PanC1 cells with MUC-1 cDNA, in addition to increasing expression of MUC-1 by the transfected PanC1 cells, also has secondary effects on cell protein expression, such as increasing levels of cytokeratins 8 and 18 in the transfected cells (Hudson et al., 1996, Abstract), but only in cells transfected with the larger (42TR) MUC-1 cDNA (Hudson et al. 1996, pg. 956, col. 1, 3^(rd) paragraph).

Transfected Kidney Cells

MUC-1 gene-transfected HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney cells) produced MUC-1 that was reactive with the MA5 monoclonal antibody, but that was not reactive with PAM4 (not shown). However, as discussed above, MUC-1-transfected PanC1 cells that express very low levels of endogenous MUC-1 synthesized MUC-1 that was strongly reactive with PAM4 and non-reactive with MAb-MA5. Heterologous sandwich immunoassays (PAM4→MA5 and MA5→PAM4 capture/probe) did not function to produce a signal with supernatants from several cell lines. Use of a polyclonal anti-mucin antiserum as probe with the PAM4 or MA5 MAbs as capture reagents did provide effective immunoassays. Cross-blocking of these two MAbs within their respective immunoassays using the polyclonal as the probe suggested these MAbs were reactive with independent epitopes.

The data suggest that the PAM4 and MA5 epitopes are not co-expressed within the same antigenic molecule, and that while the PanC1 cell line may possess biosynthetic processes that create the PAM4-epitope, the HEK-293 cells do not. Differences in post-translational modification of the MUC-1 protein core (expression/activity of specific glycosyltransferases) may be responsible for these findings.

Example 8 Effects of Reagent Treatment on Immunoreactivity of PAM4 Antigen

Treatment of pancreatic mucin PAM4 antigen with DTT (15 min at room temp), completely abolished reactivity with PAM4 (DTT-EC₅₀, 0.60±0.00 μM). The only cysteines (cystine bridges) within MUC-1 are present within the transmembrane domain and should not be accessible to DTT. The secreted form of MUC-1 does not contain the transmembrane domain and therefore has no intramolecular cystine bridges. Data from periodate oxidation treatment of PAM4 antigen with 0.05 M sodium periodate for 2 hrs at room temperature yielded 40% loss of immunoreactivity with PAM4 antibody (not shown). Further periodate studies have shown as high as a 60% loss of immunoreactivity with PAM4 antibody (not shown). The results of periodate and DTT studies suggest that the PAM4 epitope is conformationally dependent upon some minimal form of glycosylation, and may be affected by intermolecular disulfide bond formation.

Example 9 Distribution and Cross-Reactivity of the PAM4 Antigen

The expression of the PAM4-epitope within PanINs is atypical for MUC-1. It is similar to the expression reported for MUC-5ac as detected by the commercially available MAb-CLH2-2. However, an attempted sandwich immunoassay with PAM4 capture and MAb-CLH2-2 as probe gave negative results. Although this possibly suggests the PAM4 and CLH2-2 epitopes may overlap and thus block each other, the CLH2-2 was reported to be reactive with 42/66 (64%) gastric carcinomas whereas the PAM4 MAb showed reactivity with only 6/40 (15%) of gastric carcinomas and, of these, only in focal reactivity.

Use of the commercially available 45M1, an anti-MUC-5ac MAb, as a probe reagent in EIA (with PAM4 as capture) provided positive results, indicating that the two epitopes may be present on the same antigenic molecule. Blocking studies (either direction) indicated that the epitopes bound by 45M1 and PAM4 are in fact two distinct epitopes, as no blocking was observed. Labeling of tissue microarrays consisting of cores from invasive pancreatic carcinoma has demonstrated significant differences for expression of the 45M1 and PAM4 epitopes in individual patient specimens. Of 28 specimens, concordance was observed in only 17 cases (61%). PAM4 was reactive with 24/28 cases (86%) while 45M1 was reactive with 13/28 (46%) cases (not shown).

It is possible that in the studies above (Example 7) regarding MUC-1 gene transfection, expression of MUC-1 may have upregulated expression of another mucin, or affected exposure of the PAM4-epitope in some other manner. The results of periodate studies are consistent with glycosylation as a factor in PAM4 antigen immunoreactivity with the PAM4 antibody. Thus, results of studies with apomucins may not be definitive for antigen determination.

Although based on EIA capture, the PAM4 antibody appears to bind to the same antigenic protein as the 45M1 anti-MUC-5ac MAb, it is noted that MUC-5ac is not specific to pancreas cancer and it is found in a number of normal tissues (other than the gastric mucosa with which PAM4 is reactive). For example, MUC-5ac is found in normal lung, colon and other tissues. PAM4 antibody does not bind to normal lung tissues, except as indicated above in few samples and to a limited or minimal amount.

With respect to the effects of DTT and periodate, it is probable that the peptide core disulfide bridges are identical no matter what tissue produces the protein. A specific amino acid sequence should fold in a specific manner, independent of the tissue source. However, glycosylation patterns may differ dependent upon tissue source.

Example 10 Phage Display Peptide Binding of PAM4 Antibody

PAM4 antibody binding was examined with two different phage display peptide libraries. The first was a linear peptide library consisting of 12 amino acid sequences and the second was a cyclic peptide consisting of 7 amino acid sequences cyclized by a disulfide bridge. We panned the individual libraries alternately against hPAM4 and hLL2 (negative selection with anti-CD22 antibody) for a combined total of 4 rounds, and then screened the phage displayed peptide for reactivity with both hPAM4 and mPAM4 with little to no reactivity against hLL2. Phage binding in a non-specific manner (i.e., binding to epratuzumab [hLL2]) were discarded.

For the linear phage-displayed peptide, the sequence WTWNITKAYPLP (SEQ ID NO:7) was identified 30 times (in 35 sequenced phage), each of which were shown to have reactivity with PAM4 antibodies. A mutational analysis was conducted in which a library based on this sequence and having 7.5% degeneracy at each position, was constructed, panned and screened as before. Variability was noted in the 19 obtained peptide sequences that were positive for PAM4 binding with 7 being identical to the parental sequence, 5 having the sequence WTVVNITKEYPQP (SEQ ID NO:62) and the rest being uniquely present. Table 6 shows the results of this mutational analysis. The upper row lists the sequences identified and the lower row lists the frequency with which each of the amino acids was identified in that position. The parent sequence is most frequent (bold) with the next highest variation a substitution of E for A at position 8 and a substitution of Q for L at position 11. It does not appear that these substitutions had any great effect upon immunoreactivity.

TABLE 6 Phage Display Amino Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 113) Variation with Linear Peptide Binding to PAM4 Antibody W T W N I T K A Y P L P D R R E T R Q T T I N R M G F C C number of 19 19 19 18 19 17 14 10 18 17 11 19 occurrences 1 2 1 5 1 2 5 (out of 19 2 1 1 sequences 1 1 1 analyzed) 1 1 1 1

Results with the phage displayed cyclic library were significantly different from the linear library (Table 7). The sequence ACPEWWGTTC (SEQ ID NO:63) was present in 33 of 35 peptide sequences examined. Analysis of the cyclic library presented the following results (positions with an asterisk were invariant and not subject to selective pressure in the library).

TABLE 7 Phage Display Amino Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 114) Variation with Linear Peptide Binding to PAM4 Antibody A C P E W W G T T C Y S G M S S Q P number of * * 33 35 35 35 34 29 28 * occurrences 2 1 5 4 (out of 19 1 1 sequences 1 analyzed) 1

The two cysteines (at positions 2 and 10) formed a disulfide bridge. Substitution of T at position 9 with any amino acid greatly affected immunoreactivity. The sequence GTTGTTC (SEQ ID NO:64) is present within the MUC-5ac protein towards the amino terminus as compared to the cyclic peptide sequence shown above, which shows homology at the C-terminal end of the consensus peptide sequence. However, the cyclic peptide only showed approximately 10% of the immunoreactivity of the linear sequence with the PAM4 antibody. Both linear and cyclic consensus sequences are associated with a cysteine, which may or may not relate to the effect of DTT on PAM4 antigen immunoreactivity.

The results reported herein indicate that the PAM4 epitope is dependent upon a specific conformation which may be produced by disulfide bridges, as well as a specific glycosylation pattern.

Example 11 Immunohistology of Pancreatic Cancer in a Pancreatitis Specimen

Several pathologic conditions predispose patients to the development of pancreatic carcinoma, such as pancreatitis, diabetes, smoking and others. Within this pre-selected group of patients, screening measures are particularly important for the early detection of pancreatic neoplasia. We examined 9 specimens of chronic pancreatitis tissue from patients having primary diagnosis of this disease. We employed an anti-CD74 MAb, LL1, as an indicator of inflammatory infiltrate, and MAb-MA5 as a positive control for pancreatic ductal and acinar cells. Whereas the two control MAbs provided immunohistologic evidence consistent with pancreatitis, in no instance did PAM4 react with inflamed pancreatic tissue. However, in one case, a moderately differentiated pancreatic adenocarcinoma was also present within the tissue specimen. PAM4 gave an intense stain of the neoplastic cells within this tumor. In a second case, while the inflamed tissue was negative with PAM4, a small PanIN precursor lesion was identified that was labeled with PAM4. Labeling of the PanIN within this latter specimen is consistent with early detection of pancreatic neoplasia in a patient diagnosed with a non-malignant disease. These results show that detection and/or diagnosis using the PAM4 antibody may be performed with high sensitivity and selectivity for pancreatic neoplasia against a background of benign pancreatic tissues.

Example 12 Therapy of a Patient With Inoperable and Metastatic Pancreatic Carcinoma

Patient 118-001, CWG, is a 63-year-old man with Stage-IV pancreatic adenocarcinoma with multiple liver metastases, diagnosed in November of 2007. He agreed to undertake combined radioimmunotherapy and gemcitabine chemotherapy as a first treatment strategy, and was then given a first therapy cycle of 6.5 mCi/m² of ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4, combined with 200 mg/m² gemcitabine, whereby the gemcitabine was given once weekly on weeks 1-4 and ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 was given once-weekly on weeks 2-4 (3 doses). Two months later, the same therapy cycle was repeated, because no major toxicities were noted after the first cycle. Already 4 weeks after the first therapy cycle, CT evidence of a reduction in the diameters of the primary tumor and 2 of the 3 liver metastases surprisingly was noted, and this was consistent with significant decreases in the SUV values of FDG-PET scans, with 3 of the 4 tumors returning to normal background SUV levels at this time (FIG. 6 and FIG. 7). The patient's pre-therapy CA-19.9 level of 1,297 dropped to a low level of 77, further supportive of the therapy being effective. Table 8 shows the effects of combined radioimmunotherapy with ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 and gemcitabine chemotherapy in this patient. It was surprising and unexpected that such low doses of the radionuclide conjugated to the antibody combined with such low, nontoxic, doses of gemcitabine showed such antitumor activity even after only a single course of this therapy.

TABLE 8 Effects of Combined Radioimmunotherapy with ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 and Gemcitabine Chemotherapy in Metastatic Pancreatic Carcinoma Baseline 4 wk post-Tx Longest Longest Baseline Tumor Diameter Diameter PET 4 wk post-Tx Location (cm) (cm) (SUV) PET (SUV) Pancreatic tail 4.5 4.3 9.2 4.2 (primary) L hepatic met 1.9 1.9 4.1 background R post hepatic 1.7 1.6 3.7 background met R central hepatic 1.9 1.2 3.2 background met

Example 13 Therapy of a Patient with Inoperable Metastatic Pancreatic Carcinoma

A 56-year-old male with extensive, inoperable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, with several liver metastases ranging from 1 to 4 cm in diameter, substantial weight loss (30 lbs of weight or more), mild jaundice, lethargy and weakness, as well as abdominal pains requiring medication, is given 4 weekly infusions of gemcitabine at doses of 200 mg/m² each. On the last three gemcitabine infusions, ⁹⁰Y-DOTA-hPAM4 radiolabeled humanized antibody is administered at a dose of 10 mCi/m² of ⁹⁰Y and 20 mg antibody protein, in a two-hour i.v. infusion. Two weeks later, the patient is given a course of gemcitabine chemotherapy consisting of 3 weekly doses of 600 mg/m² by i.v. infusion. The patient is then evaluated 4 weeks later, and has a mild leukopenia (grade-2), no other major blood or enzyme changes over baseline, but shows an improvement in the blood CA19.9 titer from 5,700 to 1,200 and a decrease in jaundice, with an overall subjective improvement. This follows 3 weeks later with a repeat of the cycle of lower-dose gemcitabine (weekly x 4), with 3 doses of ⁹⁰Y-DOTA-hPAM4. Four weeks later, the patient is reevaluated, and the CT and PET scans confirm an approximately 40% reduction of total tumor mass (primary cancer and metastases), with a further reduction of the CA19.9 titer to 870. The patient regains appetite and activity, and is able to return to more usual daily activities without the need for pain medication. He gains 12 lbs after beginning this experimental therapy. A repeat of the scans and blood values indicates that this response is maintained 6 weeks later.

Example 14 Preparation of Dock-and-Lock (DNL) Constructs for Pretargeting

DDD and AD Fusion Proteins

The DNL technique can be used to make dimers, trimers, tetramers, hexamers, etc. comprising virtually any antibodies or fragments thereof or other effector moieties. For certain preferred embodiments, IgG antibodies or Fab antibody fragments may be produced as fusion proteins containing either a dimerization and docking domain (DDD) or anchoring domain (AD) sequence. Although in preferred embodiments the DDD and AD moieties are produced as fusion proteins, the skilled artisan will realize that other methods of conjugation, such as chemical cross-linking or click chemistry, may be utilized within the scope of the claimed methods and compositions.

Bispecific antibodies may be formed by combining a Fab-DDD fusion protein of a first antibody with a Fab-AD fusion protein of a second antibody. Alternatively, constructs may be made that combine IgG-AD fusion proteins with Fab-DDD fusion proteins. The technique is not limiting and any protein or peptide of use may be produced as an AD or DDD fusion protein for incorporation into a DNL construct. Where chemical cross-linking is utilized, the AD and DDD conjugates are not limited to proteins or peptides and may comprise any molecule that may be cross-linked to an AD or DDD sequence using any cross-linking technique known in the art. In certain exemplary embodiments, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) or other polymeric moiety may be incorporated into a DNL construct, as described in further detail below.

For pretargeting applications, an antibody or fragment containing a binding site for an antigen associated with a diseased tissue, such as a tumor-associated antigen (TAA), may be combined with a second antibody or fragment that binds a hapten on a targetable construct, to which a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent is attached. The DNL-based bispecific antibody is administered to a subject, circulating antibody is allowed to clear from the blood and localize to target tissue, and the conjugated targetable construct is added and binds to the localized antibody for diagnosis or therapy.

Independent transgenic cell lines may be developed for each Fab or IgG fusion protein. Once produced, the modules can be purified if desired or maintained in the cell culture supernatant fluid. Following production, any DDD-fusion protein module can be combined with any AD-fusion protein module to generate a bispecific DNL construct. For different types of constructs, different AD or DDD sequences may be utilized. Exemplary DDD and AD sequences are provided below.

DDD1: (SEQ ID NO: 65) SHIQIPPGLTELLQGYTVEVLRQQPPDLVEFAVEYFTRLREARA DDD2: (SEQ ID NO: 66) CGHIQIPPGLTELLQGYTVEVLRQQPPDLVEFAVEYFTRLREARA AD1: (SEQ ID NO: 67) QIEYLAKQIVDNAIQQA AD2: (SEQ ID NO: 68) CGQIEYLAKQIVDNAIQQAGC

The skilled artisan will realize that DDD1 and DDD2 comprise the DDD sequence of the human RIIα form of protein kinase A. However, in alternative embodiments, the DDD and AD moieties may be based on the DDD sequence of the human RIα form of protein kinase A and a corresponding AKAP sequence, as exemplified in DDD3, DDD3C and AD3 below.

DDD3 (SEQ ID NO: 69) SLRECELYVQKHNIQALLKDSIVQLCTARPERPMAFLREYFERLEKEE AK DDD3C (SEQ ID NO: 70) MSCGGSLRECELYVQKHNIQALLKDSIVQLCTARPERPMAFLREYFER LEKEEAK AD3 (SEQ ID NO: 71) CGFEELAWKIAKMIWSDVFQQGC

Expression Vectors

The plasmid vector pdHL2 has been used to produce a number of antibodies and antibody-based constructs. See Gillies et al., J Immunol Methods (1989), 125:191-202; Losman et al., Cancer (Phila) (1997), 80:2660-6. The di-cistronic mammalian expression vector directs the synthesis of the heavy and light chains of IgG. The vector sequences are mostly identical for many different IgG-pdHL2 constructs, with the only differences existing in the variable domain (V_(H) and V_(L)) sequences. Using molecular biology tools known to those skilled in the art, these IgG expression vectors can be converted into Fab-DDD or Fab-AD expression vectors. To generate Fab-DDD expression vectors, the coding sequences for the hinge, CH₂ and CH3 domains of the heavy chain are replaced with a sequence encoding the first 4 residues of the hinge, a 14 residue Gly-Ser linker and the first 44 residues of human RIIα (referred to as DDD 1). To generate Fab-AD expression vectors, the sequences for the hinge, CH2 and CH3 domains of IgG are replaced with a sequence encoding the first 4 residues of the hinge, a 15 residue Gly-Ser linker and a 17 residue synthetic AD called AKAP-IS (referred to as AD1), which was generated using bioinformatics and peptide array technology and shown to bind RIIα dimers with a very high affinity (0.4 nM). See Alto, et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., U.S.A (2003), 100:4445-50.

Two shuttle vectors were designed to facilitate the conversion of IgG-pdHL2 vectors to either Fab-DDD1 or Fab-AD1 expression vectors, as described below.

Preparation of CH1

The CH1 domain was amplified by PCR using the pdHL2 plasmid vector as a template. The left PCR primer consisted of the upstream (5′) end of the CH1 domain and a SacII restriction endonuclease site, which is 5′ of the CH1 coding sequence. The right primer consisted of the sequence coding for the first 4 residues of the hinge (PKSC (SEQ ID NO: 115)) followed by four glycines and a serine, with the final two codons (GS) comprising a Barn HI restriction site. The 410 bp PCR amplimer was cloned into the PGEMT® PCR cloning vector (PROMEGA®, Inc.) and clones were screened for inserts in the T7 (5′) orientation.

A duplex oligonucleotide, designated (G₄S)₂ DDD1 (:(G₄S)₂:disclosed as SEQ ID NO: 116), was synthesized by Sigma GENOSYS® (Haverhill, UK) to code for the amino acid sequence of DDD1 preceded by 11 residues of the linker peptide, with the first two codons comprising a BamHI restriction site. A stop codon and an Eagl restriction site are appended to the 3′end. The encoded polypeptide sequence is shown below.

(SEQ ID NO: 72) GSGGGGSGGGGSHIQIPPGLTELLQGYTVEVLRQQPPDLVEFAVEYFT RLREARA

Two oligonucleotides, designated RIIA1-44 top and RIIA1-44 bottom, which overlap by 30 base pairs on their 3′ ends, were synthesized and combined to comprise the central 154 base pairs of the 174 bp DDD1 sequence. The oligonucleotides were annealed and subjected to a primer extension reaction with Taq polymerase. Following primer extension, the duplex was amplified by PCR. The amplimer was cloned into PGEMT® and screened for inserts in the T7 (5′) orientation.

A duplex oligonucleotide was synthesized to code for the amino acid sequence of AD1 preceded by 11 residues of the linker peptide with the first two codons comprising a BamHI restriction site. A stop codon and an EagI restriction site are appended to the 3′ end. The encoded polypeptide sequence is shown below.

GSGGGGSGGGGSQIEYLAKQIVDNAIQQA (SEQ ID NO: 73)

Two complimentary overlapping oligonucleotides encoding the above peptide sequence, designated AKAP-IS Top and AKAP-IS Bottom, were synthesized and annealed. The duplex was amplified by PCR. The amplimer was cloned into the PGEMT® vector and screened for inserts in the T7 (5′) orientation.

Ligating DDD1 with CH1

A 190 bp fragment encoding the DDD1 sequence was excised from PGEMT® with BamHI and NotI restriction enzymes and then ligated into the same sites in CH1-PGEMT® to generate the shuttle vector CH1-DDD1-PGEMT®.

Ligating AD1 with CH1

A 110 bp fragment containing the AD1 sequence was excised from PGEMT® with BamHI and NotI and then ligated into the same sites in CH1-PGEMT® to generate the shuttle vector CH1-AD1-PGEMT®.

Cloning CH1-DDD1 or CH1-AD1 into pdHL2-based vectors

With this modular design either CH1-DDD1 or CH1-AD1 can be incorporated into any IgG construct in the pdHL2 vector. The entire heavy chain constant domain is replaced with one of the above constructs by removing the SacII/EagI restriction fragment (CH1-CH3) from pdHL2 and replacing it with the SacII/EagI fragment of CH1-DDD1 or CH1-AD1, which is excised from the respective pGemT shuttle vector.

Construction of h679-Fd-AD1-pdHL2

h679-Fd-AD1-pdHL2 is an expression vector for production of h679 Fab with AD1 coupled to the carboxyl terminal end of the CH1 domain of the Fd via a flexible Gly/Ser peptide spacer composed of 14 amino acid residues. A pdHL2-based vector containing the variable domains of h679 was converted to h679-Fd-AD1-pdHL2 by replacement of the SacII/EagI fragment with the CH1-AD1 fragment, which was excised from the CH1-AD1-SV3 shuttle vector with SacII and EagI.

Construction of C-DDD1-Fd-hMN-14-pdHL2

C-DDD1-Fd-hMN-14-pdHL2 is an expression vector for production of a stable dimer that comprises two copies of a fusion protein C-DDD1-Fab-hMN-14, in which DDD1 is linked to hMN-14 Fab at the carboxyl terminus of CH1 via a flexible peptide spacer. The plasmid vector hMN-14(I)-pdHL2, which has been used to produce hMN-14 IgG, was converted to C-DDD1-Fd-hMN-14-pdHL2 by digestion with SacII and EagI restriction endonucleases to remove the CH1-CH3 domains and insertion of the CH1-DDD1 fragment, which was excised from the CH1-DDD1-SV3 shuttle vector with SacII and EagI.

The same technique has been utilized to produce plasmids for Fab expression of a wide variety of known antibodies, such as hLL1, hLL2, hPAM4, hR1, hRS7, hMN-14, hMN-15, hA19, hA20 and many others. Generally, the antibody variable region coding sequences were present in a pdHL2 expression vector and the expression vector was converted for production of an AD- or DDD-fusion protein as described above. The AD- and DDD-fusion proteins comprising a Fab fragment of any of such antibodies may be combined, in an approximate ratio of two DDD-fusion proteins per one AD-fusion protein, to generate a trimeric DNL construct comprising two Fab fragments of a first antibody and one Fab fragment of a second antibody.

C-DDD2-Fd-hMN-14-pdHL2

C-DDD2-Fd-hMN-14-pdHL2 is an expression vector for production of C-DDD2-Fab-hMN-14, which possesses a dimerization and docking domain sequence of DDD2 appended to the carboxyl terminus of the Fd of hMN-14 via a 14 amino acid residue Gly/Ser peptide linker. The fusion protein secreted is composed of two identical copies of hMN-14 Fab held together by non-covalent interaction of the DDD2 domains.

The expression vector was engineered as follows. Two overlapping, complimentary oligonucleotides, which comprise the coding sequence for part of the linker peptide and residues 1-13 of DDD2, were made synthetically. The oligonucleotides were annealed and phosphorylated with T4 PNK, resulting in overhangs on the 5′ and 3′ ends that are compatible for ligation with DNA digested with the restriction endonucleases BamHI and PstI, respectively.

The duplex DNA was ligated with the shuttle vector CH1-DDD1-PGEMT®, which was prepared by digestion with BamHI and PstI, to generate the shuttle vector CH1-DDD2-PGEMT®. A 507 bp fragment was excised from CH1-DDD2-PGEMT® with SacII and EagI and ligated with the IgG expression vector hMN-14(I)-pdHL2, which was prepared by digestion with SacII and EagI. The final expression construct was designated C-DDD2-Fd-hMN-14-pdHL2. Similar techniques have been utilized to generated DDD2-fusion proteins of the Fab fragments of a number of different humanized antibodies.

h679-Fd-AD2-pdHL2

h679-Fab-AD2, was designed to pair as B to C-DDD2-Fab-hMN-14 as A. h679-Fd-AD2-pdHL2 is an expression vector for the production of h679-Fab-AD2, which possesses an anchoring domain sequence of AD2 appended to the carboxyl terminal end of the CH1 domain via a 14 amino acid residue Gly/Ser peptide linker. AD2 has one cysteine residue preceding and another one following the anchor domain sequence of AD1.

The expression vector was engineered as follows. Two overlapping, complimentary oligonucleotides (AD2 Top and AD2 Bottom), which comprise the coding sequence for AD2 and part of the linker sequence, were made synthetically. The oligonucleotides were annealed and phosphorylated with T4 PNK, resulting in overhangs on the 5′ and 3′ ends that are compatible for ligation with DNA digested with the restriction endonucleases BamHI and SpeI, respectively.

The duplex DNA was ligated into the shuttle vector CH1-AD1-PGEMT®, which was prepared by digestion with BamHI and SpeI, to generate the shuttle vector CH1-AD2-PGEMT®. A 429 base pair fragment containing CH1 and AD2 coding sequences was excised from the shuttle vector with SacII and EagI restriction enzymes and ligated into h679-pdHL2 vector that prepared by digestion with those same enzymes. The final expression vector is h679-Fd-AD2-pdHL2.

Example 15 Production of AD- and DDD-linked Fab and IgG Fusion Proteins From Multiple Antibodies

Using the techniques described in the preceding Example, the IgG and Fab fusion proteins shown in Table 9 were constructed and incorporated into DNL constructs. The fusion proteins retained the antigen-binding characteristics of the parent antibodies and the DNL constructs exhibited the antigen-binding activities of the incorporated antibodies or antibody fragments.

TABLE 9 Fusion proteins comprising IgG or Fab Fusion Protein Binding Specificity C-AD1-Fab-h679 HSG C-AD2-Fab-h679 HSG C-(AD)₂-Fab-h679 HSG C-AD2-Fab-h734 Indium-DTPA C-AD2-Fab-hA20 CD20 C-AD2-Fab-hA20L CD20 C-AD2-Fab-hL243 HLA-DR C-AD2-Fab-hLL2 CD22 N-AD2-Fab-hLL2 CD22 C-AD2-IgG-hMN-14 CEACAM5 C-AD2-IgG-hR1 IGF-1R C-AD2-IgG-hRS7 EGP-1 C-AD2-IgG-hPAM4 MUC C-AD2-IgG-hLL1 CD74 C-DDD1-Fab-hMN-14 CEACAM5 C-DDD2-Fab-hMN-14 CEACAM5 C-DDD2-Fab-h679 HSG C-DDD2-Fab-hA19 CD19 C-DDD2-Fab-hA20 CD20 C-DDD2-Fab-hAFP AFP C-DDD2-Fab-hL243 HLA-DR C-DDD2-Fab-hLL1 CD74 C-DDD2-Fab-hLL2 CD22 C-DDD2-Fab-hMN-3 CEACAM6 C-DDD2-Fab-hMN-15 CEACAM6 C-DDD2-Fab-hPAM4 MUC C-DDD2-Fab-hR1 IGF-1R C-DDD2-Fab-hRS7 EGP-1 N-DDD2-Fab-hMN-14 CEACAM5

Example 16 Sequence variants for DNL

In certain preferred embodiments, the AD and DDD sequences incorporated into the DNL construct comprise the amino acid sequences of AD1, AD2, AD3, DDD1, DDD2, DDD3 or DDD3C as discussed above. However, in alternative embodiments sequence variants of AD and/or DDD moieties may be utilized in construction of the DNL complexes. For example, there are only four variants of human PKA DDD sequences, corresponding to the DDD moieties of PKA RIα, RIIα, RIβ and RIIβ. The RIIα DDD sequence is the basis of DDD1 and DDD2 disclosed above. The four human PKA DDD sequences are shown below. The DDD sequence represents residues 1-44 of RIIα, 1-44 of RIIβ, 12-61 of RIα and 13-66 of RIβ. (Note that the sequence of DDD1 is modified slightly from the human PKA RIIα DDD moiety.)

PKA RIα (SEQ ID NO: 74) SLRECELYVQKHNIQALLKDVSIVQLCTARPERPMAFLREYFEKLEKE EAK PKA RIβ (SEQ ID NO: 75) SLKGCELYVQLHGIQQVLKDCIVHLCISKPERPMKFLREHFEKLEKEE NRQILA  PKA RIIα (SEQ ID NO: 76) SHIQIPPGLTELLQGYTVEVGQQPPDLVDFAVEYFTRLREARRQ PKA RIIβ (SEQ ID NO: 77) SIEIPAGLTELLQGFTVEVLRHQPADLLEFALQHFTRLQQENER

The structure-function relationships of the AD and DDD domains have been the subject of investigation. (See, e.g., Burns-Hamuro et al., 2005, Protein Sci 14:2982-92; Carr et al., 2001, J Biol Chem 276:17332-38; Alto et al., 2003, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100:4445-50; Hundsrucker et al., 2006, Biochem J 396:297-306; Stokka et al., 2006, Biochem J 400:493-99; Gold et al., 2006, Mol Cell 24:383-95; Kinderman et al., 2006, Mol Ce1124:397-408, the entire text of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.)

For example, Kinderman et al. (2006) examined the crystal structure of the AD-DDD binding interaction and concluded that the human DDD sequence contained a number of conserved amino acid residues that were important in either dimer formation or AKAP binding, underlined in SEQ ID NO:65 below. (See FIG. 1 of Kinderman et al., 2006, incorporated herein by reference.) The skilled artisan will realize that in designing sequence variants of the DDD sequence, one would desirably avoid changing any of the underlined residues, while conservative amino acid substitutions might be made for residues that are less critical for dimerization and AKAP binding.

(SEQ ID NO: 65) SHIQIPPGLTELLQGYTVEVLRQQPPDLVEFAVEYFTRLREARA

Alto et al. (2003) performed a bioinformatic analysis of the AD sequence of various AKAP proteins to design an RII selective AD sequence called AKAP-IS (SEQ ID NO:67), with a binding constant for DDD of 0.4 nM. The AKAP-IS sequence was designed as a peptide antagonist of AKAP binding to PKA. Residues in the AKAP-IS sequence where substitutions tended to decrease binding to DDD are underlined in SEQ ID NO:67. The skilled artisan will realize that in designing sequence variants of the AD sequence, one would desirably avoid changing any of the underlined residues, while conservative amino acid substitutions might be made for residues that are less critical for DDD binding.

AKAP-IS sequence

QIEYLAKQIVDNAIQQA (SEQ ID NO: 67)

Gold (2006) utilized crystallography and peptide screening to develop a SuperAKAP-IS sequence (SEQ ID NO:78), exhibiting a five order of magnitude higher selectivity for the RII isoform of PKA compared with the RI isoform. Underlined residues indicate the positions of amino acid substitutions, relative to the AKAP-IS sequence, which increased binding to the DDD moiety of RIIα. In this sequence, the N-terminal Q residue is numbered as residue number 4 and the C-terminal A residue is residue number 20. Residues where substitutions could be made to affect the affinity for RIIα were residues 8, 11, 15, 16, 18, 19 and 20 (Gold et al., 2006). It is contemplated that in certain alternative embodiments, the SuperAKAP-IS sequence may be substituted for the AKAP-IS AD moiety sequence to prepare DNL constructs. Other alternative sequences that might be substituted for the AKAP-IS AD sequence are shown in SEQ ID NO:79-81. Substitutions relative to the AKAP-IS sequence are underlined. It is anticipated that, as with the AD2 sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:68, the AD moiety may also include the additional N-terminal residues cysteine and glycine and C-terminal residues glycine and cysteine.

SuperAKAP-IS QIEYVAKQIVDYAIHQA (SEQ ID NO: 78) Alternative AKAP sequences QIEYKAKQIVDHAIHQA (SEQ ID NO: 79) QIEYHAKQIVDHAIHQA (SEQ ID NO: 80) QIEYVAKQIVDHAIHQA (SEQ ID NO: 81)

FIG. 2 of Gold et al. disclosed additional DDD-binding sequences from a variety of AKAP proteins, shown below.

RII-Specific AKAPs AKAP-KL PLEYQAGLLVQNAIQQAI (SEQ ID NO: 82) AKAP79 LLIETASSLVKNAIQLSI (SEQ ID NO: 83) AKAP-Lbc LIEEAASRIVDAVIEQVK (SEQ ID NO: 84) RI-Specific AKAPs AKAPce ALYQFADRFSELVISEAL (SEQ ID NO: 85) RIAD LEQVANQLADQIIKEAT (SEQ ID NO: 86) PV38 FEELAWKIAKMIWSDVF (SEQ ID NO: 87) Dual-Specificity AKAPs AKAP7 ELVRLSKRLVENAVLKAV (SEQ ID NO: 88) MAP2D TAEEVSARIVQVVTAEAV (SEQ ID NO: 89) DAKAP1 QIKQAAFQLISQVILEAT (SEQ ID NO: 90) DAKAP2 LAWKIAKMIVSDVMQQ (SEQ ID NO: 91)

Stokka et al. (2006) also developed peptide competitors of AKAP binding to PKA, shown in SEQ ID NO:92-94. The peptide antagonists were designated as Ht31 (SEQ ID NO:92), RIAD (SEQ ID NO:93) and PV-38 (SEQ ID NO:94). The Ht-31 peptide exhibited a greater affinity for the RII isoform of PKA, while the RIAD and PV-38 showed higher affinity for RI.

Ht31 DLIEEAASRIVDAVIEQVKAAGAY (SEQ ID NO: 92) RIAD LEQYANQLADQIIKEATE (SEQ ID NO: 93) PV-38 FEELAWKIAKMIWSDVFQQC (SEQ ID NO: 94)

Hundsrucker et al. (2006) developed still other peptide competitors for AKAP binding to PKA, with a binding constant as low as 0.4 nM to the DDD of the RII form of PKA. The sequences of various AKAP antagonistic peptides are provided in Table 1 of Hundsrucker et al., reproduced in Table 10 below. AKAPIS represents a synthetic RII subunit-binding peptide. All other peptides are derived from the RII-binding domains of the indicated AKAPs.

TABLE 10 AKAP Peptide sequences Peptide Sequence AKAPIS QIEYLAKQIVDNAIQQA (SEQ ID NO: 67) AKAPIS-P QIEYLAKQIPDNAIQQA (SEQ ID NO: 95) Ht31 KGADLIEEAASRIVDAVIEQVKAAG (SEQ ID NO: 96) Ht31-P KGADLIEEAASRIPDAPIEQVKAAG (SEQ ID NO: 97) AKAP7δ-wt-pep PEDAELVRLSKRLVENAVLKAVQQY (SEQ ID NO: 98) AKAP7δ-L304T-pep PEDAELVRTSKRLVENAVLKAVQQY (SEQ ID NO: 99) AKAP7δ-L308D-pep PEDAELVRLSKRDVENAVLKAVQQY (SEQ ID NO: 100) AKAP7δ-P-pep PEDAELVRLSKRLPENAVLKAVQQY (SEQ ID NO: 101) AKAP7δ-PP-pep PEDAELVRLSKRLPENAPLKAVQQY (SEQ ID NO: 102) AKAP7δ-L314E-pep PEDAELVRLSKRLVENAVEKAVQQY (SEQ ID NO: 103) AKAP1-pep EEGLDRNEEIKRAAFQIISQVISEA (SEQ ID NO: 104) AKAP2-pep LVDDPLEYQAGLLVQNAIQQAIAEQ (SEQ ID NO: 105) AKAP5-pep QYETLLIETASSLVKNAIQLSIEQL (SEQ ID NO: 106) AKAP9-pep LEKQYQEQLEEEVAKVIVSMSIAFA (SEQ ID NO: 107) AKAP10-pep NTDEAQEELAWKIAKMIVSDIMQQA (SEQ ID NO: 108) AKAP11-pep VNLDKKAVLAEKIVAEAIEKAEREL (SEQ ID NO: 109) AKAP12-pep NGILELETKSSKLVQNIIQTAVDQF (SEQ ID NO: 110) AKAP14-pep TQDKNYEDELTQVALALVEDVINYA (SEQ ID NO: 111) Rab32-pep ETSAKDNINIEEAARFLVEKILVNH (SEQ ID NO: 112)

Residues that were highly conserved among the AD domains of different AKAP proteins are indicated below by underlining with reference to the AKAP IS sequence (SEQ ID NO:67). The residues are the same as observed by Alto et al. (2003), with the addition of the C-terminal alanine residue. (See FIG. 4 of Hundsrucker et al. (2006), incorporated herein by reference.) The sequences of peptide antagonists with particularly high affinities for the RII DDD sequence were those of AKAP-IS, AKAP7δ-wt-pep, AKAP7δ-L304T-pep and AKAP7δ-L308D-pep.

AKAP-IS QIEYLAKQIVDNAIQQA (SEQ ID NO: 67)

Carr et al. (2001) examined the degree of sequence homology between different AKAP-binding DDD sequences from human and non-human proteins and identified residues in the DDD sequences that appeared to be the most highly conserved among different DDD moieties. These are indicated below by underlining with reference to the human PKA RIIα DDD sequence of SEQ ID NO:65. Residues that were particularly conserved are further indicated by italics. The residues overlap with, but are not identical to those suggested by Kinderman et al. (2006) to be important for binding to AKAP proteins. The skilled artisan will realize that in designing sequence variants of DDD, it would be most preferred to avoid changing the most conserved residues (italicized), and it would be preferred to also avoid changing the conserved residues (underlined), while conservative amino acid substitutions may be considered for residues that are neither underlined nor italicized.

(SEQ ID NO: 65) SHIQ IP P GL TELLQGYT V EVLR Q QP P DLVEFA VE YF TR L REA R A

The skilled artisan will realize that these and other amino acid substitutions in the antibody moiety or linker portions of the DNL constructs may be utilized to enhance the therapeutic and/or pharmacokinetic properties of the resulting DNL constructs.

Example 17 Generation of TF2 DNL Pretargeting Construct

A trimeric DNL construct designated TF2 was obtained by reacting C-DDD2-Fab-hMN-14 with h679-Fab-AD2. A pilot batch of TF2 was generated with >90% yield as follows. Protein L-purified C-DDD2-Fab-hMN-14 (200 mg) was mixed with h679-Fab-AD2 (60 mg) at a 1.4:1 molar ratio. The total protein concentration was 1.5 mg/ml in PBS containing 1 mM EDTA. Subsequent steps involved TCEP reduction, HIC chromatography, DMSO oxidation, and IMP 291 affinity chromatography. Before the addition of TCEP, SE-HPLC did not show any evidence of a₂b formation. Addition of 5 mM TCEP rapidly resulted in the formation of a₂b complex consistent with a 157 kDa protein expected for the binary structure. TF2 was purified to near homogeneity by IMP 291 affinity chromatography (not shown). IMP 291 is a synthetic peptide containing the HSG hapten to which the 679 Fab binds (Rossi et al., 2005, Clin Cancer Res 11:7122s-29s). SE-HPLC analysis of the IMP 291 unbound fraction demonstrated the removal of a₄, a₂ and free kappa chains from the product (not shown).

Non-reducing SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated that the majority of TF2 exists as a large, covalent structure with a relative mobility near that of IgG (not shown). The additional bands suggest that disulfide formation is incomplete under the experimental conditions (not shown). Reducing SDS-PAGE shows that any additional bands apparent in the non-reducing gel are product-related (not shown), as only bands representing the constituent polypeptides of TF2 were evident (not shown). However, the relative mobilities of each of the four polypeptides were too close to be resolved. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (not shown) revealed a single peak of 156,434 Da, which is within 99.5% of the calculated mass (157,319 Da) of TF2.

The functionality of TF2 was determined by BIACORE® assay. TF2, C-DDD1-hMN-14+h679-AD1 (used as a control sample of noncovalent a₂b complex), or C-DDD2-hMN-14+h679-AD2 (used as a control sample of unreduced a₂ and b components) were diluted to 1 μg/ml (total protein) and passed over a sensorchip immobilized with HSG. The response for TF2 was approximately two-fold that of the two control samples, indicating that only the h679-Fab-AD component in the control samples would bind to and remain on the sensorchip. Subsequent injections of WI2 IgG, an anti-idiotype antibody for hMN-14, demonstrated that only TF2 had a DDD-Fab-hMN-14 component that was tightly associated with h679-Fab-AD as indicated by an additional signal response. The additional increase of response units resulting from the binding of WI2 to TF2 immobilized on the sensorchip corresponded to two fully functional binding sites, each contributed by one subunit of C-DDD2-Fab-hMN-14. This was confirmed by the ability of TF2 to bind two Fab fragments of WI2 (not shown).

Example 18 Production of TF10 Bispecific Antibody for Pretargeting

A similar protocol was used to generate a trimeric TF10 DNL construct, comprising two copies of a C-DDD2-Fab-hPAM4 and one copy of C-AD2-Fab-679. The cancer-targeting antibody component in TF10 was derived from hPAM4, a humanized anti-pancreatic cancer mucin MAb that has been studied in detail as a radiolabeled MAb (e.g., Gold et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 13: 7380-7387, 2007). The hapten-binding component was derived from h679, a humanized anti-histaminyl-succinyl-glycine (HSG) MAb. The TF10 bispecific ([hPAM4]₂×h679) antibody was produced using the method disclosed for production of the (anti CEA)₂× anti HSG bsAb TF2, as described above. The TF10 construct bears two humanized PAM4 Fabs and one humanized 679 Fab.

The two fusion proteins (hPAM4-DDD and h679-AD2) were expressed independently in stably transfected myeloma cells. The tissue culture supernatant fluids were combined, resulting in a two-fold molar excess of hPAM4-DDD. The reaction mixture was incubated at room temperature for 24 hours under mild reducing conditions using 1 mM reduced glutathione. Following reduction, the DNL reaction was completed by mild oxidation using 2 mM oxidized glutathione. TF10 was isolated by affinity chromatography using IMP 291-affigel resin, which binds with high specificity to the h679 Fab.

A full tissue histology and blood cell binding panel has been examined for hPAM4 IgG and for an anti-CEA x anti-HSG bsMAb that is entering clinical trials. hPAM4 binding was restricted to very weak binding to the urinary bladder and stomach in ⅓ specimens (no binding was seen in vivo), and no binding to normal tissues was attributed to the anti-CEA x anti-HSG bsMAb. Furthermore, in vitro studies against cell lines bearing the H1 and H2 histamine receptors showed no antagonistic or agonistic activity with the IMP 288 di-HSG peptide, and animal studies in 2 different species showed no pharmacologic activity of the peptide related to the histamine component at doses 20,000 times higher than that used for imaging. Thus, the HSG-histamine derivative does not have pharmacologic activity.

Example 19 Imaging Studies Using Pretargeting With TF10 Bispecific Antibody and ¹¹¹In-Labeled Peptides

The following study demonstrates the feasibility of in vivo imaging using the pretargeting technique with bispecific antibodies incorporating hPAM4 and labeled peptides. The TF10 bispecific antibody, comprising two copies of a C-DDD2-Fab-hPAM4 and one copy of C-AD2-Fab-679, was prepared as described in the preceding Example. Nude mice bearing 0.2 to 0.3 g human pancreatic cancer xenografts were imaged, using pretargeting with TF10 and ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 peptide. The results, shown in FIG. 8, demonstrate how clearly delineated tumors can be detected in animal models using a bsMAb pretargeting method, with ¹¹¹In-labeled di-HSG peptide, IMP-288. The six animals in the top of FIG. 8 received 2 different doses of TF10 (10:1 and 20:1 mole ratio to the moles of peptide given), and the next day they were given an ¹¹¹In-labeled diHSG peptide (IMP 288). The 3 other animals on the bottom of FIG. 8 received only the ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 (no pretargeting). The images were taken 3 h after the injection of the labeled peptide and show clear localization of 0.2-0.3 g tumors in the pretargeted animals, with no localization in the animals given the ¹¹¹In-peptide alone. Tumor uptake averaged 20-25% ID/g with tumor/blood ratios exceeding 2000:1, tumor/liver ratios of 170:1, and tumor/kidney ratios of 18/1.

Example 20 Production of Targeting Peptides for Use in Pretargeting and ¹⁸F Labeling

In a variety of embodiments, ¹⁸F-labeled proteins or peptides are prepared by a novel technique and used for diagnostic and/or imaging studies, such as PET imaging. The novel technique for ¹⁸F labeling involves preparation of an ¹⁸F-metal complex, preferably an ¹⁸F-aluminum complex, which is chelated to a chelating moiety, such as DOTA, NOTA or NETA or derivatives thereof. Chelating moieties may be attached to proteins, peptides or any other molecule using conjugation techniques well known in the art. In certain preferred embodiments, the ¹⁸F—Al complex is formed in solution first and then attached to a chelating moiety that is already conjugated to a protein or peptide. However, in alternative embodiments the aluminum may be first attached to the chelating moiety and the ¹⁸F added later.

Peptide Synthesis

Peptides were synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis using the Fmoc strategy. Groups were added to the side chains of diamino amino acids by using Fmoc/Aloc protecting groups to allow differential deprotection. The Aloe groups were removed by the method of Dangles et. al. (J. Org. Chem. 1987, 52:4984-4993) except that piperidine was added in a 1:1 ratio to the acetic acid used. The unsymmetrical tetra-t-butyl DTPA was made as described in McBride et al. (US Patent Application Pub. No. 2005/0002945, the Examples section of which is incorporated herein by reference).

The tri-t-butyl DOTA, symmetrical tetra-t-butyl DTPA, ITC-benzyl DTPA, p-SCN-Bn-NOTA and TACN were obtained from MACROCYCLICS® (Dallas, Tex.). The DiBocTACN, NODA-GA(tBu)₃ and the NO₂AtBu were purchased from CheMatech (Dijon, France). The Aloc/Fmoc Lysine and Dap (diaminopropionic acid derivatives (also Dpr)) were obtained from CREOSALUS® (Louisville, Ky.) or BACHEM® (Torrance, Calif.). The Sieber Amide resin was obtained from NOVABIOCHEM® (San Diego, Calif.). The remaining Fmoc amino acids were obtained from CREOSALUS®, BACHEM®, PEPTECH® (Burlington, Mass.), EMD BIOSCIENCES® (San Diego, Calif.), CHEM IMPEX® (Wood Dale, Ill.) or NOVABIOCHEM®. The aluminum chloride hexahydrate was purchased from SIGMA-ALDRICH® (Milwaukee, Wis.). The remaining solvents and reagents were purchased from FISHER SCIENTIFIC® (Pittsburgh, Pa.) or SIGMA-ALDRICH® (Milwaukee, Wis.). ¹⁸F was supplied by IBA MOLECULAR® (Somerset, N.J.)

¹⁸F-Labeling of IMP 272

The first peptide that was prepared and ¹⁸F-labeled was IMP 272: DTPA-Gln-Ala-Lys(HSG)-D-Tyr-Lys(HSG)-NH₂MH⁺1512

IMP 272 was synthesized as described (U.S. Pat. No. 7,534,431, the Examples section of which is incorporated herein by reference).

Acetate buffer solution—Acetic acid, 1.509 g was diluted in ˜160 mL water and the pH was adjusted by the addition of 1 M NaOH then diluted to 250 mL to make a 0.1 M solution at pH 4.03.

Aluminum acetate buffer solution—A solution of aluminum was prepared by dissolving 0.1028 g of AlCl₃ hexahydrate in 42.6 mL DI water. A 4 mL aliquot of the aluminum solution was mixed with 16 mL of a 0.1 M NaOAc solution at pH 4 to provide a 2 mM Al stock solution.

IMP 272 acetate buffer solution—Peptide, 0.0011 g, 7.28×10⁻⁷ mol IMP 272 was dissolved in 364 μL of the 0.1 M pH 4 acetate buffer solution to obtain a 2 mM stock solution of the peptide.

F-18 Labeling of IMP 272-A 3 μL aliquot of the aluminum stock solution was placed in a REACTI-VIAL™ and mixed with 50 μL ¹⁸F (as received) and 3 μL of the IMP 272 solution. The solution was heated in a heating block at 110° C. for 15 min and analyzed by reverse phase HPLC. HPLC analysis (not shown) showed 93% free ¹⁸F and 7% bound to the peptide. An additional 10 μL of the IMP 272 solution was added to the reaction and it was heated again and analyzed by reverse phase HPLC (not shown). The HPLC trace showed 8% ¹⁸F at the void volume and 92% of the activity attached to the peptide. The remainder of the peptide solution was incubated at room temperature with 150 μL PBS for ˜1 hr and then examined by reverse phase HPLC. The HPLC (not shown) showed 58% ¹⁸F unbound and 42% still attached to the peptide. The data indicate that ¹⁸F—Al-DTPA complex may be unstable when mixed with phosphate.

The labeled peptide was purified by applying the labeled peptide solution onto a 1 cc (30 mg) WATERS® HLB column (Part # 186001879) and washing with 300 μL water to remove unbound F-18. The peptide was eluted by washing the column with 2×100 μL 1:1 EtOH/H₂O. The purified peptide was incubated in water at 25° C. and analyzed by reverse phase HPLC (not shown). The HPLC analysis showed that the ¹⁸F-labeled IMP 272 was not stable in water. After 40 min incubation in water about 17% of the ¹⁸F was released from the peptide, while 83% was retained (not shown).

The peptide (16 μL 2 mM IMP 272, 48 μg) was labeled with ¹⁸F and analyzed for antibody binding by size exclusion HPLC. The size exclusion HPLC showed that the peptide bound hMN-14×679 but did not bind to the irrelevant bispecific antibody hMN-14×734 (not shown).

IMP 272 ¹⁸F Labeling with Other Metals

A ˜3 μL aliquot of the metal stock solution (6×10⁻⁹ mol) was placed in a polypropylene cone vial and mixed with 75 μL ¹⁸F (as received), incubated at room temperature for ˜2 min and then mixed with 20 μL of a 2 mM (4×10⁻⁸ mol) IMP 272 solution in 0.1 M NaOAc pH 4 buffer. The solution was heated in a heating block at 100° C. for 15 min and analyzed by reverse phase HPLC. IMP 272 was labeled with indium (24%), gallium (36%), zirconium (15%), lutetium (37%) and yttrium (2%) (not shown). These results demonstrate that the ¹⁸F metal labeling technique is not limited to an aluminum ligand, but can also utilize other metals as well. With different metal ligands, different chelating moieties may be utilized to optimize binding of an F-18-metal conjugate.

Production and Use of a Serum-Stable ¹⁸F-Labeled Peptide IMP 449

The peptide, IMP 448 D-Ala-D-Lys(HSG)-D-Tyr-D-Lys(HSG)-NH₂ MH⁺1009 was made on Sieber Amide resin by adding the following amino acids to the resin in the order shown: Aloc-D-Lys(Fmoc)-OH, Trt-HSG-OH, the Aloe was cleaved, Fmoc-D-Tyr(But)-OH, Aloc-D-Lys(Fmoc)-OH, Trt-HSG-OH, the Aloe was cleaved, Fmoc-D-Ala-OH with final Fmoc cleavage to make the desired peptide. The peptide was then cleaved from the resin and purified by HPLC to produce IMP 448, which was then coupled to ITC-benzyl NOTA. The peptide, IMP 448, 0.0757 g (7.5×1 mol) was mixed with 0.0509 g (9.09×10⁻⁵ mol) ITC benzyl NOTA and dissolved in 1 mL water. Potassium carbonate anhydrous (0.2171 g) was then slowly added to the stirred peptide/NOTA solution. The reaction solution was pH 10.6 after the addition of all the carbonate. The reaction was allowed to stir at room temperature overnight. The reaction was carefully quenched with 1 M HCl after 14 hr and purified by HPLC to obtain 48 mg of IMP 449.

¹⁸F Labeling of IMP 449

The peptide IMP 449 (0.002 g, 1.37×10⁻⁶ mol) was dissolved in 686 μL (2 mM peptide solution) 0.1 M NaOAc pH 4.02. Three microliters of a 2 mM solution of Al in a pH 4 acetate buffer was mixed with 15 μL, 1.3 mCi of ¹⁸F. The solution was then mixed with 20 μL of the 2 mM IMP 449 solution and heated at 105° C. for 15 min. Reverse Phase HPLC analysis showed 35% (t_(R) ˜10 min) of the activity was attached to the peptide and 65% of the activity was eluted at the void volume of the column (3.1 min, not shown) indicating that the majority of activity was not associated with the peptide. The crude labeled mixture (5 μL) was mixed with pooled human serum and incubated at 37° C. An aliquot was removed after 15 min and analyzed by HPLC. The HPLC showed 9.8% of the activity was still attached to the peptide (down from 35%). Another aliquot was removed after 1 hr and analyzed by HPLC. The HPLC showed 7.6% of the activity was still attached to the peptide (down from 35%), which was essentially the same as the 15 min trace (data not shown).

High Dose ¹⁸F Labeling

Further studies with purified IMP 449 demonstrated that the ¹⁸F-labeled peptide was highly stable (91%, not shown) in human serum at 37° C. for at least one hour and was partially stable (76%, not shown) in human serum at 37° C. for at least four hours. Additional studies were performed in which the IMP 449 was prepared in the presence of ascorbic acid as a stabilizing agent. In those studies (not shown), the metal-¹⁸F-peptide complex showed no detectable decomposition in serum after 4 hr at 37° C. The mouse urine 30 min after injection of ¹⁸F-labeled peptide was found to contain ¹⁸F bound to the peptide (not shown). These results demonstrate that the ¹⁸F-labeled peptides disclosed herein exhibit sufficient stability under approximated in vivo conditions to be used for ¹⁸F imaging studies.

For studies in the absence of ascorbic acid, ¹⁸F ˜21 mCi in ˜400 μL of water was mixed with 9 μL of 2 mM AlCl₃ in 0.1 M pH 4 NaOAc. The peptide, IMP 449, 60 μL (0.01 M, 6×10⁻⁷ mol in 0.5 NaOH pH 4.13) was added and the solution was heated to 110° C. for 15 min. The crude labeled peptide was then purified by placing the reaction solution in the barrel of a 1 cc WATERS® HLB column and eluting with water to remove unbound ¹⁸F followed by 1:1 EtOH/H₂O to elute the ¹⁸F-labeled peptide. The crude reaction solution was pulled through the column into a waste vial and the column was washed with 3×1 mL fractions of water (18.97 mCi). The HLB column was then placed on a new vial and eluted with 2×200 μL 1:1 EtOH/H₂O to collect the labeled peptide (1.83 mCi). The column retained 0.1 mCi of activity after all of the elutions were complete. An aliquot of the purified ¹⁸F-labeled peptide (20 μL) was mixed with 200 μL of pooled human serum and heated at 37° C. Aliquots were analyzed by reverse phase HPLC. The results showed the relative stability of ¹⁸F-labeled purified IMP 449 at 37° C. at time zero, one hour (91% labeled peptide), two hours (77% labeled peptide) and four hours (76% labeled peptide) of incubation in human serum (not shown). It was also observed that ¹⁸F-labeled IMP 449 was stable in TFA solution, which is occasionally used during reverse phase HPLC chromatography. There appears to be a general correlation between stability in TFA and stability in human serum observed for the exemplary ¹⁸F-labeled molecules described herein. These results demonstrate that ¹⁸F-labeled peptide, produced according to the methods disclosed herein, shows sufficient stability in human serum to be successfully used for in vivo labeling and imaging studies, for example using PET scanning to detect labeled cells or tissues. Finally, since IMP 449 peptide contains a thiourea linkage, which is sensitive to radiolysis, several products are observed by RP-HPLC. However, when ascorbic acid is added to the reaction mixture, the side products generated were markedly reduced.

Example 21 In Vivo Studies with Pretargeting TF10 DNL Construct and ¹⁸F-Labeled Peptide

¹⁸F-labeled IMP 449 was prepared as follows. The ¹⁸F, 54.7 mCi in ˜0.5 mL was mixed with 3 μL, 2 mM Al in 0.1 M NaOAc pH 4 buffer. After 3 min 10 mL of 0.05 M IMP 449 in 0.5 M pH 4 NaOAc buffer was added and the reaction was heated in a 96° C. heating block for 15 min. The contents of the reaction were removed with a syringe. The crude labeled peptide was then purified by HPLC on a C₁₈ column. The flow rate was 3 mL/min. Buffer A was 0.1% TFA in water and Buffer B was 90% acetonitrile in water with 0.1% TFA. The gradient went from 100% A to 75/25 A:B over 15 min. There was about 1 min difference in retention time (t_(R)) between the labeled peptide, which eluted first and the unlabeled peptide. The HPLC eluent was collected in 0.5 min (mL) fractions. The labeled peptide had a t_(R) between 6 to 9 min depending on the column used. The HPLC purified peptide sample was further processed by diluting the fractions of interest two fold in water and placing the solution in the barrel of a 1 cc WATERS® HLB column. The cartridge was eluted with 3×1 mL water to remove acetonitrile and TFA followed by 400 μL 1:1 EtOH/H₂O to elute the ¹⁸F-labeled peptide. The purified [Al¹⁸F] IMP 449 eluted as a single peak on an analytical HPLC C₁₈ column (not shown).

TACONIC® nude mice bearing the four slow-growing sc CaPan1 xenografts were used for in vivo studies. Three of the mice were injected with TF10 (162 μg) followed with [Al¹⁸F] IMP 449 18 h later. TF10 is a humanized bispecific antibody of use for tumor imaging studies, with divalent binding to the PAM-4 defined tumor antigen and monovalent binding to HSG (see, e.g., Gold et al., 2007, J. Clin. Oncol. 25(185):4564). One mouse was injected with peptide alone. All of the mice were necropsied at 1 h post peptide injection. Tissues were counted immediately. Comparison of mean distributions showed substantially higher levels of ¹⁸F-labeled peptide localized in the tumor than in any normal tissues in the presence of tumor-targeting bispecific antibody (data not shown).

Tissue uptake was similar in animals given the [Al¹⁸F] IMP 449 alone or in a pretargeting setting (data not shown). Uptake in the human pancreatic cancer xenograft, CaPan1, at 1 h was increased 5-fold in the pretargeted animals as compared to the peptide alone (4.6±0.9% ID/g vs. 0.89% ID/g). Exceptional tumor/nontumor ratios were achieved at this time (e.g., tumor/blood and liver ratios were 23.4±2.0 and 23.5±2.8, respectively).

The results demonstrate that ¹⁸F labeled peptide used in conjunction with a PAM4 containing antibody construct, such the TF10 DNL construct, provide suitable targeting of the ¹⁸F label to perform in vivo imaging, such as PET imaging analysis.

Example 22 Further Imaging Studies with TF10

Summary

Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the application of radiolabeled mAb-PAM4 for nuclear imaging and radioimmunotherapy of pancreatic carcinoma. We have examined herein the ability of the TF10 construct to pretarget a radiolabeled peptide for improved imaging and therapy. Biodistribution studies and nuclear imaging of the radiolabeled TF10 and/or TF10-pretargeted hapten-peptide (IMP-288) were conducted in nude mice bearing CaPan1 human pancreatic cancer xenografts. ¹²⁵I-TF10 cleared rapidly from the blood, with levels decreasing to <1% injected dose per gram (ID/g) by 16 hours. Tumor uptake was 3.47±0.66% ID/g at this time point with no accumulation in any normal tissue. To show the utility of the pretargeting approach, ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 was administered 16 hours after TF10. At 3 hours postadministration of radiolabeled peptide, imaging showed intense uptake within the tumors and no evidence of accretion in any normal tissue. No targeting was observed in animals given only the ¹¹¹In-peptide. Tumor uptake of the TF10-pretargeted ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 was 24.3±1.7% ID/g, whereas for ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 alone it was only 0.12±0.002% ID/g at 16 hours. Tumor/blood ratios were significantly greater for the pretargeting group(˜1,000:1 at 3 hours) compared with ¹¹¹In-PAM4-IgG (˜5:1 at 24 hours; P<0.0003). Radiation dose estimates suggested that TF10/⁹⁰Y-peptide pretargeting would provide a greater antitumor effect than ⁹⁰Y-PAM4-IgG. Thus, the results support that TF10 pretargeting may provide improved imaging for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of pancreatic cancer as compared with directly radiolabeled PAM4-IgG. (Gold et al., Cancer Res 2008, 68(12):4819-26)

We have identified a unique biomarker present on mucin expressed by >85% of invasive pancreatic adenocarcinomas, including early stage I disease and the precursor lesions, pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (Gold et al., Clin Cancer Res 2007, 13:7380-87). The specific epitope, as detected by mAb-PAM4 (Gold et al., Int J Cancer 1994, 57:204-10), is absent from normal and inflamed pancreatic tissues, as well as most other malignant tissues. Thus, detection of the epitope provides a high diagnostic likelihood for the presence of pancreatic neoplasia. Early clinical studies using ¹³¹I- and ^(94m)Tc-labeled, murine PAM4 IgG or Fab′, respectively, showed specific targeting in 8 of 10 patients with invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma (Mariani et al., Cancer Res 1995, 55:5911s-15s; Gold et al., Crit. Rev Oncol Hematol 2001, 39:147-54). Of the two negative patients, one had a poorly differentiated pancreatic carcinoma that did not express the PAM4-epitope, whereas the other patient was later found to have pancreatitis rather than a malignant lesion.

Accordingly, the high specificity of PAM4 for pancreatic cancer is of use for the detection and diagnosis of early disease. In addition to improved detection, ⁹⁰Y-PAM4 IgG was found to be effective in treating large human pancreatic cancer xenografts in nude mice (Cardillo et al., Clin Cancer Res 2001, 7:3186-92), and when combined with gemcitabine, further improvements in therapeutic response were observed (Gold et al., Clin Cancer Res 2004, 10:3552-61; Gold et al., Int J Cancer 2004, 109:618-26). A Phase I therapy trial in patients who failed gemcitabine treatment was recently completed, finding the maximum tolerated dose of ⁹⁰Y-humanized PAM4 IgG to be 20 mCi/m² (Gulec et al., Proc Amer Soc Clin One, 43rd Annual Meeting, J Clin Oncol 2007, 25(18S):636s). Although all patients showed disease progression at or after week 8, initial shrinkage of tumor was observed in several cases. Clinical studies are now underway to evaluate a fractionated dosing regimen of ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 IgG in combination with a radiosensitizing dose of gemcitabine.

We report herein the development of a novel recombinant, humanized bispecific monoclonal antibody (mAb), TF10, based on the targeting specificity of PAM4 to pancreatic cancer. This construct also binds to the unique synthetic hapten, histamine-succinyl-glycine (HSG), which has been incorporated in a number of small peptides that can be radiolabeled with a wide range of radionuclides suitable for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, as well as for therapeutic purposes (Karacay et al., Clin Cancer Res 2005, 11:7879-85; Sharkey et al., Leukemia 2005, 19:1064-9; Rossi et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2006, 103:6841-6; McBride et al., J Nucl Med 2006, 47:1678-88). These studies illustrate the potential of this new construct to target pancreatic adenocarcinoma for imaging or therapeutic applications.

Methods and Materials

The TF2 and TF10 bispecific DNL constructs and the IMP 288 targeting peptide were prepared as described above. Sodium iodide (¹²⁵I) and indium chloride (¹¹¹In) were obtained from PERKIN-ELMER®. TF10 was routinely labeled with ¹²⁵I by the iodogen method, with purification by use of size-exclusion spin columns. Radiolabeling of DOTA-peptide and DOTA-PAM4-IgG with ¹¹¹InCl was done as previously described (Rossi et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2006, 103:6841-6; McBride et al., J Nucl Med 2006, 47:1678-88). Purity of the radiolabeled products was examined by size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography with the amount of free, unbound isotope determined by instant TLC.

For TF10 distribution studies, female athymic nude mice ˜20 g (TACONIC® Farms), bearing s.c. CaPan1 human pancreatic cancer xenografts, were injected with ¹²⁵I-TF10 (10 μCi; 40 μg, 2.50×10⁻¹⁰ mol). At various time points, groups of mice (n=5) were necropsied, with tumor and nontumor tissues removed and counted in a gamma counter to determine the percentage of injected dose per gram of tissue (% ID/g), with these values used to calculate blood clearance rates and tumor/nontumor ratios.

For pretargeting biodistribution studies, a bispecific mAb/radiolabeled peptide molar ratio of 10:1 was used. For example, a group of athymic nude mice bearing s.c. CaPan1 human pancreatic cancer xenografts was administered TF10 (80 μg, 5.07×10⁻¹⁰ mol), whereas a second group was left untreated. At 16 h postinjection of TF10, ¹¹1n-IMP-288 hapten-peptide (30 μCi, 5.07×10⁻¹¹ mol) was administered. Mice were necropsied at several time points, with tumor and nontumor tissues removed and counted in a gamma counter to determine the % ID/g. Tumor/nontumor ratios were calculated from these data. In a separate study, groups of mice were given ¹¹¹In-DOTA-PAM4-IgG (20 μC, 50 μg, 3.13×10⁻¹⁰ mol) for the purpose of comparing biodistribution, nuclear imaging, and potential therapeutic activity. Radiation dose estimates were calculated from the time-activity curves with the assumption of no activity at zero time. Student's t test was used to assess significant differences.

To perform nuclear immunoscintigraphy, at 3 h postinjection of radiolabeled peptide or 24 h postinjection of radiolabeled hPAM4-IgG, tumor-bearing mice were imaged with a dual-head Solus gamma camera fitted with medium energy collimator for ¹¹¹In (ADAC Laboratories). Mice were imaged for a total of 100,000 cpm or 10 min, whichever came first.

Results

In vitro characterization of the bispecific mAb TF10. The binding of TF10 to the target mucin antigen was analyzed by ELISA (FIG. 9). The results showed nearly identical binding curves for the divalent TF10, PAM4-IgG, and PAM4-F(ab′)₂ (half-maximal binding was calculated as 1.42±0.10, 1.31±0.12, and 1.83±0.16 nmol/L, respectively; P>0.05 for all), whereas the monovalent bsPAM4 chemical conjugate (PAM4-Fab′ x anti-DTPA-Fab′) had a significantly lower avidity (half-maximal binding, 30.61±2.05 nmol/L; P=0.0379, compared with TF10), suggesting that TF10 binds in a divalent manner. The immunoreactive fraction of ¹²⁵I-TF10 bound to the mucin was 87%, with 9% found as unbound TF10 and 3% as free iodide (not shown). Ninety percent of the ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 bound to TF10 (not shown). Of the total ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 bound to TF10, 92% eluted at higher molecular weight when excess mucin (200 μg) was added, with only 3% eluting with the non-mucin-reactive TF10 fraction. An additional 5% of the radiolabeled peptide eluted in the free peptide volume. None of the radiolabeled peptide bound to the mucin antigen in the absence of TF10 (not shown).

Biodistribution of ¹²⁵I-TF10 in CaPan1 tumor-bearing nude mice. TF10 showed a rapid clearance from the blood, starting with 21.03±1.93% ID/g at 1 hour and decreasing to just 0.13±0.02% ID/g at 16 hours. The biological half-life was calculated to be 2.19 hours [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 2.11-2.27 hours]. Tissue uptake revealed enhanced activity in the liver, spleen, and kidneys at 1 hour, which cleared just as quickly by 16 hours [T_(1/2)=2.09 hours (95% CI, 2.08-2.10), 2.84 hours (95% CI, 2.49-3.29), and 2.44 hours (95% CI, 2.28-2.63) for liver, spleen, and kidney, respectively]. Activity in the stomach most likely reflects the accretion and excretion of radioiodine, suggesting that the radioiodinated TF10 was actively catabolized, presumably in the liver and spleen, thereby explaining its rapid clearance from the blood. Nevertheless, by 16 hours, the concentration of radioiodine within the stomach was below 1% ID/g. A group of five non-tumor-bearing nude mice given ¹²⁵I-TF10 and necropsied at 16 hours showed similar tissue distribution, suggesting that the tumor had not affected the bispecific mAb distribution and clearance from normal tissues (data not shown). Of course, it is possible that differences occurred before the initial time point examined. Tumor uptake of TF10 peaked at 6 hours postinjection (7.16±1.10% ID/g) and had decreased to half maximum binding (3.47±0.66% ID/g) at 16 hours. Tumor uptake again decreased nearly 2-fold over the next 32 hours, but then was stable over the following 24 hours.

Biodistribution of TF10-pretargeted, ¹¹¹In-labeled peptide. Although maximum tumor uptake of TF10 occurred at 6 hours, previous experience indicated that the radiolabeled peptide would need to be given at a time point when blood levels of TF10 had cleared to <1% ID/g (i.e., 16 hours). Higher levels of TF10 in the blood would lead to unacceptably high binding of the radiolabeled peptide within the blood (i.e., low tumor/blood ratios), whereas administering the peptide at a later time would mean the concentration of TF10 in the tumor would be decreased with consequently reduced concentration of radiolabeled peptide within the tumor. Thus, an initial pretargeting study was done using a 16-hour interval. With the amount of the ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 held constant (30 μCi, 5.07×10⁻¹¹ mol), increasing amounts of TF10 were given so that the administered dose of TF10 and IMP-288 expressed as mole ratio varied from 5:1 to 20:1 (Table 11).

TABLE 11 Biodistribution of ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 alone (no TF10) or pretargeted with varying amounts of TF10 % ID/g at 3 h (mean ± SD) 5:1 10:1 20:1 No TF10 Tumor 19.0 ± 3.49 24.3 ± 1.71 28.6 ± 0.73 0.12 ± 0.00 Liver 0.09 ± 0.01 0.21 ± 0.12 0.17 ± 0.01 0.07 ± 0.00 Spleen 0.12 ± 0.04 0.16 ± 0.07 0.26 ± 0.10 0.04 ± 0.01 Kidneys 1.59 ± 0.11 1.72 ± 0.24 1.53 ± 0.14 1.71 ± 0.22 Lungs 0.19 ± 0.06 0.26 ± 0.00 0.29 ± 0.04 0.03 ± 0.00 Blood 0.01 ± 0.00 0.01 ± 0.01 0.01 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 Stomach 0.03 ± 0.02 0.02 ± 0.02 0.01 ± 0.00 0.02 ± 0.01 Small intestine 0.12 ± 0.08 0.08 ± 0.03 0.04 ± 0.01 0.06 ± 0.02 Large intestine 0.23 ± 0.10 0.39 ± 0.08 0.25 ± 0.08 0.33 ± 0.02 Pancreas 0.02 ± 0.00 0.02 ± 0.01 0.02 ± 0.00 0.02 ± 0.00 Tumor weight 0.12 ± 0.03 0.32 ± 0.09 0.27 ± 0.01 0.35 ± 0.03 (g)

At 3 hours the amount of ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 in the blood was barely detectable (0.01%). Tumor uptake increased from 19.0±3.49% ID/g to 28.55±0.73% ID/g as the amount of bispecific mAb administered was increased 4-fold (statistically significant differences were observed for comparison of each TF10/peptide ratio, one group to another; P<0.03 or better), but without any appreciable increase in normal tissue uptake. Tumor uptake in the animals given TF10 was >100-fold higher than when ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 was given alone. Comparison of ¹¹¹In activity in the normal tissues of the animals that either received or did not receive prior administration of TF10 indicated similar absolute values, which in most instances were not significantly different. This suggests that the bispecific mAb had cleared sufficiently from all normal tissues by 16 hours to avoid appreciable peptide uptake in these tissues. Tumor/blood ratios were >2,000:1, with other tissue ratios exceeding 100:1. Even tumor/kidney ratios exceeded 10:1. The highest tumor uptake of radioisotope with minimal targeting to nontumor tissues resulted from the 20:1 ratio; however, either of the TF10/peptide ratios could be used to achieve exceptional targeting to tumor, both in terms of signal intensity and contrast ratios. The 10:1 ratio was chosen for further study because the absolute difference in tumor uptake of radiolabeled peptide was not substantially different between the 10:1 (24.3±1.71% ID/g) and 20:1 (28.6±0.73% ID/g) ratios.

Images of the animals given TF10-pretargeted ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 at a bispecific mAb/peptide ratio of 10:1, or the ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 peptide alone, are shown in FIG. 10. The majority of these tumors were 1.0.5 cm in diameter, weighing ˜0.25 g. The images show highly intense uptake in the tumor of the TF10-pretargeted animals (FIG. 10A). The intensity of the image background for the TF10-pretargeted animals was increased to match the intensity of the image taken of the animals given the ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 alone (FIG. 10B). However, when the images were optimized for the TF10-pretargeted mice, the signal intensity and contrast were so high that no additional activity was observed in the body. No tumor localization was seen in the animals given the ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 alone, even when image intensity was enhanced (FIG. 10C).

An additional experiment was done to assess the kinetics of targeting ¹¹¹In-hPAM4 whole-IgG compared with that of the TF10-pretargeted ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 peptide. Tumor uptake of the ¹¹¹In-peptide was highest at the initial time point examined, 3 hours (15.99±4.11% ID/g), whereas the blood concentration of radiolabeled peptide was only 0.02±0.01% ID/g, providing a mean tumor/blood ratio of 946.3±383.0. Over time, radiolabeled peptide cleared from the tumor with a biological half-life of 76.04 hours. Among nontumor tissues, uptake was highest in the kidneys, averaging 1.89±0.42% ID/g at 3 hours with a steady decrease over time (biological half-life, 33.6 hours). Liver uptake started at 0.15±0.06% ID/g and remained essentially unchanged over time. In contrast to the TF10-pretargeted ¹¹¹In-IMP-288, the ¹¹¹In-hPAM4-IgG had a slower clearance from the blood, albeit there was a substantial clearance within the first 24 hours, decreasing from 30.1% ID/g at 3 hours to just 11.5±1.7% ID/g at 24 hours. Variable elevated uptake in the spleen suggested that the antibody was likely being removed from the blood by targeting of secreted mucin that had become entrapped within the spleen. Tumor uptake peaked at 48 hours with 80.4±6.1% ID/g, and remained at an elevated level over the duration of the monitoring period. The high tumor uptake, paired with a more rapid than expected blood clearance for an IgG, produced tumor/blood ratios of 5.2±1.0 within 24 hours. FIG. 10C shows the images of the animals at 24 hours postadministration of ¹¹¹In-PAM4-IgG, illustrating that tumors could be visualized at this early time, but there was still considerable activity within the abdomen. Tumor/nontumor ratios were mostly higher for TF10-pretargeted ¹¹¹In-labeled hapten-peptide as compared with ¹¹¹In-hPAM4-IgG, except for the kidneys, where tumor/kidney ratios with the ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 and ¹¹¹In-hPAM4-IgG were similar at later times. However, tumor/kidney ratios for the TF10-pretargeted ¹¹¹In-IMP-288 were high enough (e.g., ˜7:1) at 3 hours to easily discern tumor from normal tissue.

FIG. 11 illustrates the potential therapeutic capability of the direct and pretargeted methods to deliver radionuclide (⁹⁰Y). Although the concentration (% ID/g) of radioisotope within the tumor seems to be much greater when delivered by PAM4-IgG than by pretargeted TF10 at their respective maximum tolerated dose (0.15 mCi for ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 and 0.9 mCi for TF10-pretargeted ⁹⁰Y-IMP-288), the radiation dose to tumor would be similar (10,080 and 9,229 cGy for ⁹⁰Y-PAM4-IgG and TF10-pretargeted ⁹⁰Y-IMP-288, respectively). The advantage for the pretargeting method would be the exceptionally low activity in blood (9 cGy), almost 200-fold less than with the ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 IgG (1,623 cGy). It is also important to note that the radiation dose to liver, as well as other nontumor organs, would be much lower with the TF10-pretargeted ⁹⁰Y-IMP-288. The exception would be the kidneys, where the radiation dose would be similar for both protocols at their respective maximum dose (612 and 784 cGy for ⁹⁰Y-PAM4-IgG and TF10-⁹⁰Y-IMP-288, respectively). The data suggest that for ⁹⁰Y-PAM4-IgG, as with most other radiolabeled whole-IgG mAbs, the dose-limiting toxicity would be hematologic; however, for the TF10 pretargeting protocol, the dose-limiting toxicity would be the kidneys.

Discussion

Current diagnostic modalities such as ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies, which provide anatomic images, along with PET imaging of the metabolic environment, have routinely been found to provide high sensitivity in the detection of pancreatic masses. However, these data are, for the most part, based on detection of lesions >2 cm in a population that is already presenting clinical symptoms. At this time in the progression of the pancreatic carcinoma, the prognosis is rather dismal. To improve patient outcomes, detection of small, early pancreatic neoplasms in the asymptomatic patient is necessary.

Imaging with a mAb-targeted approach, such as is described herein with mAb-PAM4, may provide for the diagnosis of these small, early cancers. Of prime importance is the specificity of the mAb. We have presented considerable data, including immunohistochemical studies of tissue specimens (Gold et al., Clin Cancer Res 2007; 13:7380-7; Gold et al., Int J Cancer 1994; 57:204-10) and immunoassay of patient sera (Gold et al., J Clin Oncol 2006; 24:252-8), to show that mAb-PAM4 is highly reactive with a biomarker, the presence of which provides high diagnostic likelihood of pancreatic neoplasia. Furthermore, we determined that PAM4, although not reactive with normal adult pancreatic tissues nor active pancreatitis, is reactive with the earliest stages of neoplastic progression within the pancreas (pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia 1 and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia) and that the biomarker remains at high levels of expression throughout the progression to invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma (Gold et al., Clin Cancer Res 2007; 13:7380-7). Preclinical studies with athymic nude mice bearing human pancreatic tumor xenografts have shown specific targeting of radiolabeled murine, chimeric, and humanized versions of PAM4.

In the current studies, we have examined a next-generation, recombinant, bispecific PAM4-based construct, TF10, which is divalent for the PAM4 arm and monovalent for the anti-HSG hapten arm. There are several important characteristics of this pretargeting system's constructs, named dock-and-lock, including its general applicability and ease of synthesis. However, for the present consideration, the major differences from the previously reported chemical construct are the valency, which provides improved binding to tumor antigen, and, importantly, its pharmacokinetics. TF10 clearance from nontumor tissues is much more rapid than was observed for the chemical conjugate. Time for blood levels of the bispecific constructs to reach less than 1% ID/g was 40 hours postinjection for the chemical construct versus 16 hours for TF10. A more rapid clearance of the pretargeting agent has provided a vast improvement of the tumor/blood ratio, while maintaining high signal strength at the tumor site (% ID/g).

In addition to providing a means for early detection and diagnosis, the results support the use of the TF10 pretargeting system for cancer therapy. Consideration of the effective radiation dose to tumor and nontumor tissues favors the pretargeting method over directly radiolabeled PAM4-IgG. The dose estimates suggest that the two delivery systems have different dose-limiting toxicities: myelotoxicity for the directly radiolabeled PAM4 versus the kidney for the TF10 pretargeting system. This is of significance for the future clinical development of radiolabeled PAM4 as a therapeutic agent.

Gemcitabine, the frontline drug of choice for pancreatic cancer, can provide significant radiosensitization of tumor cells. In previous studies, we showed that combinations of gemcitabine and directly radiolabeled PAM4-IgG provided synergistic antitumor effects compared with either arm alone (Gold et al., Clin Cancer Res 2004, 10:3552-61; Gold et al., Int J Cancer 2004, 109:618-26). The dose-limiting factor with this combination was overlapping hematologic toxicity. However, because the dose-limiting organ for TF10 pretargeting seems to be the kidney rather than hematologic tissues, combinations with gemcitabine should be less toxic, thus allowing increased administration of radioisotope with consequently greater antitumor efficacy.

The superior imaging achieved with TF10 pretargeting in preclinical models, as compared with directly radiolabeled DOTA-PAM4-IgG, provides a compelling rationale to proceed to clinical trials with this imaging system. The specificity of the tumor-targeting mAb for pancreatic neoplasms, coupled with the bispecific antibody platform technology providing the ability to conjugate various imaging compounds to the HSG-hapten-peptide for SPECT (¹¹¹In), PET (⁶⁸Ga), ultrasound (Au), or other contrast agents, or for that matter ⁹⁰Y or other radionuclides for therapy, provides high potential to improve overall patient outcomes (Goldenberg et al., J Nucl Med 2008, 49:158-63). In particular, we believe that a TF10-based ImmunoPET procedure will have major clinical value to screen individuals at high-risk for development of pancreatic cancer (e.g., genetic predisposition, chronic pancreatitis, smokers, etc.), as well as a means for follow-up of patients with suspicious abdominal images from conventional technologies and/or with indications due to the presence of specific biomarker(s) or abnormal biochemical findings. When used as part of an ongoing medical plan for following these patients, early detection of pancreatic cancer may be achieved. Finally, in combination with gemcitabine, TF10 pretargeting may provide a better opportunity for control of tumor growth than directly radiolabeled PAM4-IgG.

Example 23 Therapy of Pancreatic Cancer Xenografts with Gemcitabine and ⁹⁰Y-Labeled Peptide Pretargeted Using TF10

Summary

⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 IgG is currently being examined in Phase I/II trials in combination with gemcitabine in patients with Stage III/IV pancreatic cancer. We disclose a new approach for pretargeting radionuclides that is able to deliver a similar amount of radioactivity to pancreatic cancer xenografts, but with less hematological toxicity, which would be more amenable for combination with gemcitabine. Nude mice bearing ˜0.4 cm³ sc CaPan1 human pancreatic cancer were administered a recombinant bsMAb, TF10, followed 1 day later with a ⁹⁰Y-labeled hapten-peptide (IMP-288). Various doses and schedules of gemcitabine were added to this treatment, and tumor progression monitored up to 28 weeks. 0.7 mCi PT-RAIT alone produce only a transient 60% loss in blood counts, and animals given 0.9 mCi of PT-RAIT alone and 0.7 mCi PT-RAIT+6 mg gemcitabine (human equivalent ˜1000 mg/m²) had no histological evidence of renal toxicity after 9 months. A single dose of 0.25 or 0.5 mCi PT-RAIT alone can completely ablate 20% and 80% of the tumors, respectively. Monthly fractionated PT-RAIT (0.25 mCi/dose given at the start of each gemcitabine cycle) added to a standard gemcitabine regimen (6 mg wkly x 3; 1 wk off; repeat 3 times) significantly increased the median time for tumors to reach 3.0 cm³ over PT-RAIT alone. Other treatment plans examining non-cytotoxic radiosensitizing dose regimens of gemcitabine added to PT-RAIT also showed significant improvements in treatment response over PT-RAIT alone. The results show that PT-RAIT is a promising new approach for treating pancreatic cancer. Current data indicate combining PT-RAIT with gemcitabine will enhance therapeutic responses.

Methods

TF10 bispecific antibody was prepared as described above. For pretargeting, TF10 was given to nude mice bearing the human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line, CaPan1. After allowing sufficient time for TF10 to clear from the blood (16h), the radiolabeled divalent HSG-peptide was administered. The small molecular weight HSG-peptide (−1.4 kD) clears within minutes from the blood, entering the extravascular space where it can bind to anti-HSG arm of the pretargeted TF10 bsMAb. Within a few hours, >80% of the radiolabeled HSG-peptide is excreted in the urine, leaving the tumor localized peptide and a trace amount in the normal tissues.

Results

FIG. 12 illustrates the therapeutic activity derived from a single treatment of established (˜0.4 cm³) CaPan1 tumors with 0.15 mCi of ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 IgG, or 0.25 or 0.50 mCi of TF10-pretargeted ⁹⁰Y-IMP-288. Similar anti-tumor activity was observed for the 0.5-mCi pretargeted dose vs. 0.15-mCi dose of the directly radiolabeled IgG, but hematological toxicity was severe at this level of the direct conjugate (not shown), while the pretargeted dose was only moderately toxic (not shown). Indeed, the MTD for pretargeting using 90Y-IMP-288 is at least 0.9 mCi in nude mice.

FIG. 13 shows that the combination of gemcitabine and PT-BAIT has a synergistic effect on anti-tumor therapy. Human equivalent doses of 1000 mg/m² (6 mg) of gemcitabine (GEM) were given intraperitoneally to mice weekly for 3 weeks, then after resting for 1 week, this regimen was repeated 2 twice. PT-RAIT (0.25 mCi of TF10-pretargeted ⁹⁰Y-IMP-288) was given 1 day after the first GEM dose in each of the 3 cycles of treatment. Gem alone had no significant impact on tumor progression (survival based on time to progress to 3.0 cm³). PT-RAIT alone improved survival compared to untreated animals, but the combined GEM with PT-RAIT regimen increased the median survival by nearly 10 weeks. Because hematological toxicity is NOT dose-limiting for PT-RAIT, but it is one of the limitations for gemcitabine therapy, these studies suggest that PT-RAIT could be added to a standard GEM therapy with the potential for enhanced responses. The significant synergistic effect of gemcitabine plus PT-RAIT was surprising and unexpected.

A further study examined the effect of the timing of administration on the potentiation of anti-tumor effect of gemcitabine plus PT-RAIT. A single 6-mg dose of GEM was given one day before or 1 day after 0.25 mCi of TF10-pretargeted ⁹⁰Y-IMP-288 (not shown). This study confirmed what is already well known with GEM, i.e., radiosensitization is best given in advance of the radiation. Percent survival of treated mice showed little difference in survival time between PT-RAIT alone and PT-RAIT with gemcitabine given 22 hours after the radiolabeled peptide. However, administration of gemcitabine 19 hours prior to PT-RAIT resulted in a substantial increase in survival (not shown).

Single PT-RAIT (0.25 mCi) combined with cetuximab (1 mg weekly ip; 7 weeks) or with cetuximab+GEM (6 mg weekly×3) in animals bearing CaPan1 showed the GEM+cetuximab combination with PT-RAIT providing a better initial response (FIG. 14), but the response associated with just cetuximab alone added to PT-RAIT was encouraging (FIG. 14), since it was as good or better than PT-RAIT+GEM. Because the overall survival in this study was excellent, with only 2 tumors in each group progressing to >2.0 cm³ after 24 weeks when the study was terminated, these results indicate a potential role for cetuximab when added to PT-RAIT.

Example 24 Effect of Fractionated Pretargeted Radioimmunotherapy (PT-RAIT) for Pancreatic Cancer Therapy

We evaluated fractionated therapy with ⁹° Y-DOTA-di-HSG peptide (IMP-288) and TF10. Studies using TF10 and radiolabeled IMP-288 were performed in nude mice bearing s.c. CaPan1 human pancreatic cancer xenografts, 0.32-0.54 cm³. For therapy, TF10-pretargeted ⁹⁰Y-IMP-288 was given [A] once (0.6mCi on wk 0) or [B] fractionated (0.3 mCi on wks 0 and 1), [C] (0.2 mCi on wks 0, 1 and 2) or [D] (0.2 mCi on wks 0, 1 and 4).

Tumor regression (>90%) was observed in the majority of mice, 9/10, 10/10, 9/10 and 8/10 in groups [A], [B], [C] and [D], respectively. In group [A], maximum tumor regression in 50% of the mice was reached at 3.7 wks, compared to 6.1, 8.1 and 7.1 wks in [B], [C] and [D], respectively. Some tumors showed regrowth. At week 14, the best therapeutic response was observed in the fractionated group (2×0.3 mCi), with 6/10 mice having no tumors (NT) compared to 3/10 in the 3×0.2 mCi groups and 1/10 in the 1×0.6mCi group. No major body weight loss was observed. Fractionated PT-RAIT provides another alternative for treating pancreatic cancer with minimum toxicity.

Example 25 ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 Radioimmunotherapy (RAIT) Plus Radiosensitizing Gemcitabine (GEM) Treatment in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (PC)

⁹⁰Y-hPAM4, a humanized antibody highly specific for PC, showed transient activity in patients with advanced disease, and GEM enhanced RAIT in preclinical studies. This study evaluated repeated treatment cycles of ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 plus GEM in patients with untreated, unresectable PC. The ⁹⁰Y-dose was escalated by cohort, with patients repeating 4-wk cycles (once weekly 200 mg/m² GEM, ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 once-weekly wks 2-4) until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Response assessments used CT, FDG-PET, and CA19.9 serum levels.

Of 8 patients (3F/5M, 56-72 y.o.) at the 1^(st) 2 dose levels (6.5 and 9.0 mCi/m² ⁹⁰Y-IRAM4×3), hematologic toxicity has been transient Grade 1-2. Two patients responded to initial treatment with FDG SUV and CA19.9 decreases, and lesion regression by CT. Both patients continue in good performance status now after 9 and 11 mo. and after a total of 3 and 4 cycles, respectively, without additional toxicity. A 3^(rd) patient with a stable response by PET and CT and decreases in CA19.9 levels after initial treatment is now undergoing a 2nd cycle. Four other patients had early disease progression and the remaining patient is still being evaluated. Dose escalation is continuing after fractionated RAIT with ⁹⁰Y-hPAM4 plus low-dose gemcitabine demonstrated therapeutic activity at the initial ⁹⁰Y-dose levels, with minimal hematologic toxicity, even after 4 therapy cycles.

Example 26 Early Detection of Pancreatic Carcinoma Using Mab-PAM4 and In Vitro Immunoassay

Immunohistochemistry studies were performed with PAM4 antibody. Results obtained with stained tissue sections showed no reaction of PAM4 with normal pancreatic ducts, ductules and acinar tissues (not shown). In contrast, use of the MA5 antibody applied to the same tissue samples showed diffuse positive staining of normal pancreatic ducts and acinar tissue (not shown). In tissue sections with well differentiated or moderately differentiated pancreatic adenocarcinoma, PAM4 staining was positive, with mostly cytoplasmic staining but intensification of at the cell surface. Normal pancreatic tissue in the same tissue sections was unstained.

Table 12 shows the results of immunohistochemical analysis with PAM4 MAb in pancreatic adenocarcinoma samples of various stages of differentiation. Overall, there was an 87% detection rate for all pancreatic cancer samples, with 100% detection of well differentiated and almost 90% detection of moderately differentiated pancreatic cancers.

TABLE 12 PAM4 Labeling Pattern Cancer n Focal Diffuse Total Well Diff. 13 2 11  13 (100%) Moderately Diff. 24 6 15 21 (88%) Poorly Diff. 18 5 9 14 (78%) Total 55 13 35 48 (87%)

Table 13 shows that PAM4 immunohistochemical staining also detected a very high percentage of precursor lesions of pancreatic cancer, including PanIn-1A to PanIN-3, IPMN (intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms) and MCN (mucinous cystic neoplasms). Overall, PAM4 staining detected 89% of all pancreatic precursor lesions. These results demonstrate that PAM4 antibody-based immunodetection is capable of detecting almost 90% of pancreatic cancers and precursor lesions by in vitro analysis. PAM4 expression was observed in the earliest phases of PanIN development. Intense staining was observed in IPMN and MCN samples (not shown). The PAM4 epitope was present at high concentrations (intense diffuse stain) in the great majority of pancreatic adenocarcinomas. PAM4 showed diffuse, intense reactivity with the earliest stages of pancreatic carcinoma precursor lesions, including PanIN-1, IPMN and MCN, yet was non-reactive with normal pancreatic tissue. Taken together, these results show that diagnosis and/or detection with the PAM4 antibody is capable of detecting, with very high specificity, the earliest stages of pancreatic cancer development.

TABLE 13 PAM4 Labeling Pattern n Focal Diffuse Total PanIn-1A 27 9 15 24 (89%) PanIn-1B 20 4 16  20 (100%) PanIn-2 11 6 4 10 (91%) PanIn-3 5 2 0  2 (40%) Total PanIn 63 21 35 56 (89%) IPMN 36 6 25 31 (86%) MCN 27 3 22 25 (92%)

An enzyme based immunoassay for PAM4 antigen in serum samples was developed. FIG. 15 shows the results of differential diagnosis using PAM4 immunoassay for pancreatic cancer versus normal tissues and other types of cancer. The results showed a sensitivity of detection of pancreatic cancer of 77.4%, with a specificity of detection of 94.3%, comparing pancreatic carcinoma (n=53) with all other specimens (n=233), including pancreatitis and breast, ovarian and colorectal cancer and lymphoma. The data of FIG. 15 are presented in tabular form in Table 14.

TABLE 14 PAM4-Reactive Mucin in Patient Sera n Mean SD Median Range # Positive (%) Normal 43 0.1 0.3 0.0 0-2.0  0 (0) Pancreatitis 87 3.0 11.5 0.0 0-63.6 4 (5) Pancreatic CA 53 171 317 31.7  0-1000 41 (77) Colorectal CA 36 3.3 7.7 0.0 0-37.8  5 (14) Breast CA 30 3.7 10.1 0.0 0-53.5 2 (7) Ovarian CA 15 1.8 4.3 0.0 0-16.5 1 (7) Lymphoma 19 12.3 44.2 0.0 0-194  1 (5)

An ROC curve (not shown) was constructed with the data from Table 14. Examining a total of 283 patients, including 53 with pancreatic carcinoma, and comparing the presence of circulating PAM4 antigen in patients with pancreatic cancer to all other samples, the ROC curve provided an AUC of 0.88±0.03 (95% ci, 0.84-0.92) with a P value <0.0001, a highly significant difference for discrimination of pancreatic carcinoma from non-pancreatic carcinoma samples. Comparing pancreatic CA with other tumors and normal tissue, the PAM4 based serum assay showed a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 95%.

A comparison was made of PAM4 antigen concentration in serum samples from normal patients, “early” (stage 1) pancreatic carcinoma and all pancreatic carcinoma samples. The specimens included 13 sera from healthy volunteers, 12 sera from stage-1, 13 sera from stage-2 and 25 sera from stage-3/4 (advanced) pancreatic carcinoma. A cutoff value of 8.8 units/ml (red line) was used, as determined by ROC curve statistical analysis. The frequency distribution of PAM4 antigen concentration is shown in FIG. 16, which shows that 92% of “early” stage-1 pancreatic carcinomas were above the cutoff line for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. An ROC curve for the PAM4 based assay is shown in FIG. 17, which demonstrates a sensitivity of 81.6% and specificity of 84.6% for the PAM4 assay in detection of pancreatic cancer.

These results confirm that an enzyme immunoassay based on PAM4 antibody binding can detect and quantitate PAM4-reactive antigen in the serum of pancreatic carcinoma patients. The immunoassay demonstrates high specificity and sensitivity for pancreatic carcinoma. The majority of patients with stage 1 disease were detectable using the PAM4 immunoassay.

In conclusion, an immunohistology procedure employing PAM4 antibody identified approximately 90% of invasive pancreatic carcinoma and its precursor lesions, PanIN, IPMN and MCN. A PAM4 based enzyme immunoassay to quantitate PAM4 antigen in human patient sera showed high sensitivity and specificity for detection of early pancreatic carcinoma. Due to the high specificity of PAM4 for pancreatic carcinoma, the mucin biomarker can also serve as a target for in vivo targeting of imaging and therapeutic agents. ImmunoPET imaging for detection of “early” pancreatic carcinoma is of use for the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, when it can be more effectively treated. Use of radioimmunotherapy with a humanized PAM4 antibody construct, preferably in combination with a radio sensitizing agent, is of use for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Example 27 Further Studies of In Vitro Detection of PAM4 Antigen in Human Serum

In certain embodiments, it is preferred to detect the presence of PAM4 antigen and/or to diagnose the presence of pancreatic cancer in a subject by in vitro analysis of samples that can be obtained by non-invasive techniques, such as blood, plasma or serum samples. Such ex vivo analysis may be preferred, for example, in screening procedures where there is no a priori reason to believe that an individual has a pancreatic tumor in a specific location. The objective of the present study was to develop a reliable, accurate, serum-based assay for detection of pancreatic cancer at the earliest stages of the disease.

Summary

A PAM4-based immunoassay was used to quantitate antigen in the serum of healthy volunteers (N=19), patients with known diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (N=68), and patients with a primary diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis (N=29). Sensitivity for the detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma was 82%, with a false-positive rate of 5% for the healthy controls. Patients with advanced disease had significantly higher antigen levels than those with early-stage disease (P<0.01), with a diagnostic sensitivity of 91%, 86%, and 62% for stage 3/4 advanced disease, stage-2, and stage-1, respectively. We also evaluated chronic pancreatitis sera, finding 38% positive for antigen. However, this observation was discordant with immunohistochemical findings that suggest the PAM4-antigen is not produced by inflamed pancreatic tissue. Furthermore, several of the serum-positive pancreatitis patients, for whom tissue specimens were available for pathological interpretation, had evidence of neoplastic precursor lesions.

These results show that the PAM4-serum assay may be used to detect early-stage pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and that positive serum levels of PAM4-antigen are not derived from inflamed pancreatic tissues, but rather may provide evidence of subclinical pancreatic neoplasia.

Materials and Methods

Human Specimens Sera (N=68) were obtained from patients with a confirmed diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma being treated at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Baltimore, Md., and stored frozen <5 yrs. Each of these patients underwent surgical resection of the pancreas, providing an opportunity for accurate diagnosis and staging. For stage-1 disease, no neoplastic cells were observed outside of the pancreas. However, patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma are likely to have undetected micrometastatic disease at presentation, including those patients reported with stage-1 disease. For this reason, we evaluated follow-up survival data. All patients described as having stage-1 disease survived at least 1 year (time to last recorded follow-up visit), with a median survival time of 2.70 years (25^(th) percentile=1.32 years) in comparison to the latest SEER data (2002-2006), which reports a 1.42-year median survival for patients having stage-1 disease treated by surgical resection.

A total of 29 sera from patients with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis were obtained from the Johns Hopkins Medical Center and Zeptometrix Corp. (Franklin, Mass.). Healthy volunteers (N=19) provided blood for control specimens at the Center for Molecular Medicine and Immunology. All specimens were de-identified, with the only clinical data provided to the investigators being the diagnosis, stage of disease, follow-up survival time, and size of the primary tumor.

Reagents A human pancreatic mucin preparation was isolated from CaPan1, a human pancreatic cancer grown as xenografts in athymic nude mice. Briefly, 1 g of tissue was homogenized in 10 mL of 0.1 M ammonium bicarbonate containing 0.5 M sodium chloride. The sample was then centrifuged to obtain a supernatant that was fractionated on a SEPHAROSE®-4B-CL column with the void volume material chromatographed on hydroxyapatite. The unadsorbed fraction was dialyzed extensively against deionized water and then lyophilized. A 1 mg/mL solution was prepared in 0.01 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH, 7.2) containing 0.15 M sodium chloride (phosphate-buffered saline [PBS]), and used as the stock solution for the immunoassay standards. A polyclonal, anti-mucin antiserum was prepared by immunization of rabbits, as described previously (Gold et al., Cancer Res 43:235-38, 1983). An IgG fraction was purified and assessed for purity by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and molecular-sieve high-performance liquid chromatography. Murine MA5 antibody reactive with the MUC-1 protein core was obtained from Immunomedics, Inc. (Morris Plains, N.J.). A non-binding isotype-matched control antibody, Ag8, was purified from the P3×63-Ag8 murine myeloma.

Sample Preparation All assays were performed in a blinded fashion. To prepare the specimens for immunoassay, 300 μL of serum were placed in a 2.0 mL microcentrifuge tube and extracted with an equal volume of 1-butanol. The tubes were vortexed vigorously for 2 min at which time 300 μL of chloroform were added and the tubes again vortexed for 2 min; this latter step was included in the procedure in order to invert the aqueous and organic layers. The tubes were then centrifuged in a microfuge at a setting of 12,000 rpm for 5 min. The top aqueous layer was removed to a clean tube and the sample diluted 1:2 in 2.0% (w/v) casein-sodium salt in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.2, containing 0.15 M sodium chloride (PBS) for immunoassay.

Enzyme immunoassay The immunoassay was performed in a 96-well polyvinyl plate that had been coated with 100 μL of humanized-PAM4 IgG at 20 μg/mL in PBS with incubation at 4° C. overnight. The wells were then blocked by addition of 200 μL of a 2.0% (w/v) solution of casein in PBS and incubated for 1.5 h at 37° C. The blocking solution was removed from the wells and the plate washed 5-times with 250 μL of PBS containing 0.1% (v/v) Tween-20. The standards, or unknown specimens, 100 μL in triplicate, were added to the appropriate wells and incubated at 37° C. for 1.5 h. The plate was then washed 5-times with PBS-Tween-20 as above.

The polyclonal, rabbit anti-mucin antibody, diluted to 5 μg/mL in 1.0% (w/v) casein in PBS containing 50 μg/mL non-specific, human IgG, was added to each well and incubated for 1 h at 37° C. The polyclonal antibody was then washed from the wells as above, and peroxidase-labeled donkey anti-rabbit IgG (Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, West Grove, Pa.), at a 1:2000 dilution in 1.0% (w/v) casein in PBS, also containing 50 μg/mL human IgG, was added to the wells and incubated at 37° C. for 1 h. After washing the plate as above, 100 μL of a 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine substrate solution were added to the wells and incubated at room temperature for 30 min. The reaction was stopped by the addition of 50 μL 4.0 N sulfuric acid, and the optical density read at a wavelength of 450 nm using a SPECTRA-MAX® 250 spectrophotometer (Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.). Because of the considerable microheterogeneity of the PAM4-mucin, we chose to report our results in arbitrary units/mL, based on an initial reference standard purified from xenografted CaPan-1 human pancreatic tumor.

Immunohistochemistry Paraffin-embedded specimens obtained from the Cooperative Human Tissue Network were cut to 4 micron sections on superfrost plus adhesive slides (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, Mass.). Tissue sections were then heated to 95° C. for 20 min in a pH 9.0 Tris buffer, Target Retrieval Solution (Dako, Carpinteria, Calif.), allowed to cool to room temperature, and then quenched with 3% H₂O₂ for 15 min at room temperature. Primary antibodies were then used at 10 μg/mL with an ABC VECTASTAIN® kit (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, Calif.) for labeling the tissues. The slides were scored independently by two pathologists using a paradigm consistent with that reported for earlier studies on biomarkers in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (Gold et al., 2007, Clin Cancer Res 13:7380-87): O-negative, <1% of the tissue was labeled; 1-a weak, focal labeling of between 1%-25% of the tissue; 2-a strong, focal labeling of between 1%-25% of the tissue; 3-a weak, diffuse labeling >25% of the tissue; 4-a strong, diffuse labeling >25% of the tissue. Only the appropriate tissue components (e.g., adenocarcinoma cells, normal ducts, etc.) were considered for assessment.

Statistical Analyses Standard curves were generated from the immunoassay data, with regression analyses performed to interpolate concentrations of the unknown samples (Prism 4.0 software, GraphPad, La Jolla, Calif.). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated by use of the Med-Calc statistical software package (version 7.5) (Med-Calc, Mariakerke Belgium). Student's t-test was used to compare variables in any two groups. The Cochran-Armitage test was used to detect a trend between detection rates and stage of disease.

Results

Accuracy and precision of the immunoassay A set of control standards with nominal concentrations of 15.60, 6.20, 2.50, and 1.00 units/mL was evaluated on several nonconsecutive days (N=7) for determination of accuracy and precision. Curve fitting for the standards generally gave resultant goodness of fit values for r²>0.990. Accuracy was calculated to be within 8% of the nominal value for the first three concentrations, but fell to approximately 22% for the 1.00 units/mL standard. Linear regression of nominal vs. measured units/mL in this series of controls gave a trend-line with a slope of 0.965 and y intercept of 0.174 (r²=0.999), where a slope of 1.00 with a y intercept of 0.00 would constitute 100% accuracy (FIG-. 18). An average absolute difference between nominal and recovered mass equal to 0.190±0.173 units/mL for the two lowest concentration standards suggested a minimum absolute error of approximately 0.2 units/mL for the EIA. Values for the coefficient of variation (CV) were 6.40%, 4.85%, 12.0%, and 66.4%, respectively, for the 4 control standards. Taken together, the data suggest that the PAM4-immunoassay provides levels of accuracy and reproducibility that are within the guidelines suggested for an immunoassay measurement of an analyte; accuracy and precision were within 15% for concentrations above the cutoff value (2.40 units/mL), and within 20% at the cutoff value. To further test this, we examined 3 sera, two of which were from healthy controls, on 3 separate days. The two healthy controls gave average results of 0.27±0.06 and 0.30±0.27 units/mL, each of which was close to the minimum absolute error for the EIA with consequent high CV of 21.65% and 88.19%, respectively. The other patient serum gave an average of 19.45±2.51 units/mL with a CV of 12.9%.

Quantitation of antigen in patient sera In a preliminary study reported in Example 26 above, the PAM4 serum-based immunoassay had an apparent sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 94% for pancreatic carcinoma. We evaluated a new group of 24 sera from patients diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Only two of the sera had levels of PAM4-reactive antigen considered to be positive. Therefore, we considered and evaluated reasons why the immunoassay had not performed as expected, including the quality of the immunoassay reagents, the possibility that the antigen was being degraded and/or removed from the serum, its presence in the form of immune complexes, or being bound by a blocking substance. We discovered that there is a substance in fresh human serum and/or specimens stored frozen for short periods of time (<5 yrs) that apparently binds to the PAM4-reactive epitope and blocks its binding to PAM4 antibody, thus preventing detection by immunoassay. Percent recovery of antigen from fresh normal human serum (N=2) spiked with PAM4-antigen at concentrations from 5-20 units/mL was on the order of 33% or less.

In a series of reports, Slomiany and co-workers disclosed that gastric mucin had covalenty bound and/or associated lipids and fatty-acids (Slomiany et al., 1984, Arch Biochem Biophys 229:560-67; Slomiany et al., 1986, Biochem Biophys Res Commun 141:387-93; Zalesna et al., 1989, Biochem Int 18:775-84), and that these lipids and fatty acids had specific effects upon the physicochemical properties of the mucin. Furthermore, it was reported that fatty-acid synthetase levels and activity are significantly elevated in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, as is also the case for other forms of cancer and other pathologic conditions (Walter et al., 2009, Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prey 19:2380-85). Because the blocking substance might be lipid in nature, we performed organic extraction of sera from the group of 24 pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients that had been stored frozen for <5 years. As was noted above, without prior extraction, only 2 of the 24 specimens (8.3%) had levels of PAM4-antigen that were considered positive, whereas after organic extraction, 22 of the 24 specimens (92%) had positive levels of the PAM4-antigen.

We were also able to re-evaluate, from the study reported in Example 26, 10 pancreatic adenocarcinoma patient sera that had been stored frozen for >15 years to confirm the prior results. With or without extraction, all 10 specimens had levels of antigen that were considered to be positive. Regression analysis to compare paired results from extracted and non-extracted sera gave a trendline with slope of 1.10 (r²=0.94), demonstrating that with or without extraction of these long-term frozen sera, the results were similar. It is considered that long-term storage of the specimens resulted in degradation of the inhibiting substance or decreased binding to and unmasking of the epitope. All further testing of sera was performed with organic extraction of specimens prior to immunoassay.

Specimens evaluated for PAM4-reactive antigen included 68 patients with confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma divided by stage: 21 from stage-1; 14 from stage-2; and 33 from stages-3 and -4 (advanced). In addition, 19 sera collected from healthy adult volunteers and 29 patients diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis were included as control groups. The maximum concentration shown in the dot-plot (FIG. 19) was 80 units/mL, because there were insufficient volumes of sera to perform additional dilution studies. Although a cutoff value of 10.2 units/mL was reported in Example 26 above, because of the use of an organic extraction procedure, as well as differences in the EIA protocol (reagent concentrations, inclusion of human IgG in buffers), we chose to treat the current data set independently of prior results. A positive cutoff value of 2.4 units/mL was calculated by ROC curve statistics (FIG. 20) for the comparison of all pancreatic adenocarcinoma specimens versus healthy adults. The overall sensitivity for detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma was 82%, with an area under the curve of 0.92±0.03 (95% CI=0.84-0.97). At this level of sensitivity, a false-positive rate of 5% was observed for the healthy control group, the single positive case having 3.65 units/mL of circulating antigen, just above the cutoff value. Insufficient volumes of sera precluded CA19-9 immunoassays for comparison to the PAM4-immunoassay results.

As shown in Table 15, sensitivity for detection of early, stage-1 pancreatic adenocarcinoma was relatively high, with 13 of 21 (62%) specimens above the cutoff value. As expected, this detection rate was lower than that observed for the stage-2 (86%) and advanced stage-3 and -4 (91%) patient groups. A statistically significant trend (P<0.01) was noted for detection rate vs. stage of disease. We considered that this was most likely due to tumor size or burden. The average tumor sizes for stage-1, stage-2, and stage-3/4 groups were 2.14±1.02 cm³, 3.36±1.18 cm³, and 3.45±1.06 cm³, respectively. While there was no statistically significant difference in tumor size between the stage-2 and -3/4 groups (P >0.41), a statistically significant difference was observed for each of these two groups when compared to stage-1 tumor size (P<0.004 or better). However, it should be noted that individual tumor size did not correlate with antigen concentration in the serum (r²=0.0065).

Specimens reported as Stage-1 could be divided into stage-1A (N=13) and stage-1B (N=8) subgroups based on tumor size, with detection rates of 54% and 75%, respectively; however, caution is emphasized since the number of patients in each subgroup is small. The average tumor size for stage-1A was 1.41±0.58 cm³ (range: 0.4 cm³-2.0 cm³) and for stage-1B was 3.15±0.44 cm³ (range: 2.5 cm³-4 cm³); P<0.001 for comparison of the two groups. While, on the whole, tumor sizes were smaller in stage-1A disease than in stage-1B, there was no apparent statistical correlation between individual tumor size and concentration of the PAM4-antigen in the blood (r²=0.03). Furthermore, it is important to note that of the 13 stage-1A specimens, 4 of the 7 positive cases had PAM4-antigen levels considerably higher than the cutoff value, with a range of 17.65-32.65 units/mL.

TABLE 15 PAM4-reactive antigen in the sera of patients Median T-test N (units/mL) True-Positive (P value)^(a) Total PC 68 9.85 81% <0.001 Stage-1 21 4.53 62% <0.002 Stage-1A 13 3.96 54% <0.02 Stage-1B 8 6.05 75% <0.02 Stage-2 14 10.39 86% <0.005 Stage-3/4 33 13.37 91% <0.001 Chronic Pancreatitis 29 1.28 (38% FP) Healthy Volunteers 19 1.18  (5% FP) ^(a)All comparisons are to healthy volunteers

We also evaluated a set of 29 patient sera with the primary diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. At the 2.4 units/mL cutoff established by ROC evaluation of normal and pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients, 11 pancreatitis patients (38%) were positive. ROC curve analysis of pancreatitis sera compared directly to the pancreatic adenocarcinoma specimens gave an area under the curve of 0.77±0.05 (95% CI=0.68-0.85). The median value for the pancreatitis group was 1.28 units/mL, comparable to the healthy volunteer group (1.18 units/mL), but considerably lower (3.5-fold) than the stage-1 pancreatic adenocarcinoma group (4.53 units/mL). It should be noted that our earlier results for pancreatitis specimens suggested a considerably lower false-positive rate, only 5%. However, those pancreatitis specimens were stored frozen for less than 5 years, and were not organic phase extracted prior to analysis.

Biopsy and/or surgical specimens were available from 14 of the chronic pancreatitis specimens, 6 of which were from patients who were considered positive for circulating PAM4 antigen. In 3 of these 6 positive cases, precursor lesions were identified within the tissue sections. It was then considered whether the positive serum test was due to pancreatitis or the presence of neoplastic precursor lesions. We performed immunohistochemistry on an additional 30 biopsy specimens from patients diagnosed with pancreatitis. Of the 30 specimens, one frank invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma and one large PanIN-2-3 lesion were identified (in separate specimens) by use of PAM4 staining, while surrounding acinar-ductal metaplasia (ADM) and normal tissues were negative (data not shown). Of the remaining 28 specimens, 19 had sufficient parenchyma to be evaluated, 16 of which had evidence of ADM. PAM4 was negative in all but two of these cases, and in each of these gave only a very focal, weak labeling of ADM within the specimens (data not shown).

Discussion

Studies reported in Example 26 that employed both immunohistology of tissue specimens and EIA of circulating antigen demonstrated that the PAM4-reactive epitope is a biomarker for invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma and is expressed at the earliest stages of pancreatic neoplasia (i.e., PanIN-1). It was not detectable within normal pancreatic tissues (ducts, acinar and islet cells), nor the majority of non-pancreatic cancers examined (breast, lung, gastric, and others). Thus, an elevation of the PAM4-epitope concentration in the serum provided a high positive likelihood ratio of 16.8 for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Missing from the prior study was clinical information regarding the stage of disease. Consequently, we could not evaluate the value of the immunoassay for detection of potentially curable early disease until now.

We report herein that PAM4-based EIA using serum samples can detect patients having early-stage pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and can provide accurate discrimination from disease-free individuals. The assay's sensitivity for detection of early pancreatic adenocarcinoma was 62% for patients with stage-1 and 86% for patients with stage-2 disease and serum levels generally increased with advancing stage of disease. A high percentage of patients with stage-1 and -2 disease are clinically asymptomatic. We conclude that detection of tumor growth at these early stages using a PAM4 serum assay could provide improved prospects for survival.

The cancer patients in this study all underwent surgical resection, providing an opportunity to accurately stage each patient. However, many patients with pancreatic cancer are suspected of having micrometastatic disease at presentation, even if they do not have histologically-apparent regional lymph node involvement. This highlights a general problem in the study of early detection, particularly with a low-incidence disease such as pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The accrual of specimens that are well-defined is problematic. Further complicating the issue is that many of these pancreatic cancers occur in the presence of chronic pancreatitis, cholecystitis, and neoplastic precursor lesions, amongst other conditions.

Of 29 sera with a primary diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, 38% were identified as positive for PAM4-antigen. However, several of these serum-positive patients, for whom tissue specimens for pathological interpretation were available, had evidence of neoplastic precursor lesions. Furthermore, a discrepancy was observed in the comparison of tissue reactivity by immunohistology and serum levels of antigen by immunoassay. By immunohistochemistry, only 10% of the evaluable specimens showed evidence of PAM4 staining within the ADM, although this was at considerably lower intensity than observed for the overwhelming majority of pancreatic adenocarcinoma specimens (Gold et al., 2007, Clin Cancer Res 13:7380-87). Therefore, the results suggest that positive levels of PAM4-antigen within the serum may not be derived from inflamed pancreatic tissues, but rather could provide evidence of subclinical pancreatic neoplasia, such as PanIN lesions, and that, at the very least, positive results provide the rationale for clinical follow-up of these patients.

Findings from genetically-engineered animal models of pancreatic adenocarcinoma suggest that human pancreatic neoplasia may arise before the PanIN-1 lesion (Leach, 2004, Cancer Cell 5:7-11). ADM was the earliest change observed in the mutant KRAS targeted model described by Zhu et al. (2007, Am J Pathol 171:263-73). On the other hand, Shi et al. (2009, Mol Cancer Res 7:230-36) reported that although KRAS gene mutations can occur within ADM, they occur predominantly within ADM that are associated with PanIN lesions. The authors suggest this may occur by retrograde extension of the PanIN to the surrounding ADM. As yet, there is no conclusive evidence that ADM progress to PanIN. The fact that PAM4 is reactive with ADM in two patients with pancreatitis is of interest.

At the present time, screening the general population for pancreatic cancer is not considered medically or economically worthwhile, because the disease is simply too infrequent. However, there is considerable interest in screening patients predicted to have an increased risk of developing pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Several studies have demonstrated that screening individuals with strong family histories of pancreatic cancer can identify precursor neoplasms of the pancreas that are amenable to surgical resection (Canto et al., 2006, Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 4:766-81; Canto, 2005, Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 3:S46-58; Brentnall et al., 1999, Ann Intern Med 131:247-55). For example, relatives of pancreatic cancer patients have a significantly higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than the general population (Shi et al., 2009, Arch Pathol Lab Med 133:365-74). A small percentage of patients with familial pancreatic cancer harbor mutations of PALB2 (partner and localizer of BRCA2), a susceptibility gene for pancreatic cancer (Tischkowitz et al., 2009, Gastroenterology 137:1183-86). Similarly, patients with long-standing chronic pancreatitis are at increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer, and the risk is over 30%, among patients with early-onset (teenage) hereditary pancreatitis (Lowenfels et al., 1993, New Eng J Med 328:1433-37; Lowenfels et al., 1997, J Natl Cancer Inst 89:442-46). A 20- to 34-fold higher risk has been observed in individuals with familial atypical multiple mole (FAMMM) syndrome (Rutter et al., 2004, Cancer 101:2809-16). Also, several studies have shown a significantly increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer in diabetic individuals who meet certain criteria (Pannala et al., 2009, Lancet Oncol 10:88-95). Longitudinal surveillance of these patients by use of the PAM4-immunoassay may provide for early detection of neoplasia. A second potential use of the immunoassay could be as a means to detect recurrence of disease post-therapy, and in particular, following surgical resection for those patients where the tumor is supposedly confined to the pancreas.

The relatively high specificity of the PAM4 antibody provides a means to target both imaging and therapeutic agents with high tumor uptake and high tumor/nontumor ratios. We have demonstrated PAM4's potential as both a directly-radiolabeled or bispecific, pretargeting reagent for nuclear imaging and radioimmunotherapy of pancreatic cancer. Also, initial results of a clinical phase 1b trial to evaluate a fractionated dosing of ⁹⁰Y-PAM4 whole IgG (clivatuzumab tetraxetan), in combination with a radiosensitizing regimen of gemcitabine, were reported recently (Pennington et al., 2009, J Clin Oncol 27:15s, abstract 4620). Of 22 patients with stage-3/4 disease (mostly stage-4), 68% showed evidence of disease control, with 23% of patients having partial responses based on RECIST criteria. Thus, positive results by the PAM4-based immunoassay provides a rationale to pursue PAM4-targeted imaging and therapy, thus providing a personalized therapy.

The PAM4-based immunoassay can identify the majority of pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients of all stages. Although a direct comparison with CA19.9 was not possible in the current study, a prior comparison of the two biomarkers in a limited set of pancreatic adenocarcinoma sera (N=41) demonstrated a statistically significant difference (P<0.01) with PAM4-antigen levels positive in 71% of patient specimens and CA19.9-antigen levels positive in 59% of specimens. In general, it is thought that CA19.9 lacks the sensitivity and specificity to provide for early detection and/or diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, the assay does have its use for management with continued elevation in CA19.9 serum levels post treatment indicative of a poor prognosis. Similarly, we recently reported in abstract form (Pennington et al., 2009, J Clin Oncol 27:15s, abstract 4620), the use of circulating PAM4-antigen levels for prediction of anti-tumor response.

These results show that the conditions under which specimens are stored (e.g., the length of time they are kept frozen) can have significant effects upon accessibility of the epitope under study. For the PAM4-based immunoassay, a fatty acid or lipid substance may be able to bind the specific epitope and interfere with the immunoassay. However, it is also possible this material was a low-molecular weight peptide or other substance soluble in organic solvents. The ability to remove this substance by organic extraction of the serum makes the PAM4-immunoassay reproducible. In addition, the question is raised as to the biological significance of the circulating inhibitor:PAM4 antigen interaction. However, when using the PAM4 antibody as an in vivo targeting agent (e.g., radioimmunotherapy), the presence of circulating PAM4-antigen is not a factor, since targeting of radiolabeled-PAM4 to sites of tumor growth has been observed in the majority of patients evaluated to date. Thus, it appears that the PAM4-antigen within tumor is free of the blocking substance.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the products, compositions, methods and processes of this invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations, provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of detecting or diagnosing pancreatic cancer comprising: a) administering to an individual an antibody construct comprising at least one anti-MUC-5ac monoclonal antibody or antigen-binding fragment that binds to the same epitope as or competes for binding to pancreatic cancer mucin with a chimeric PAM4 (cPAM4) antibody that comprises the light chain variable region CDR sequences CDR1 (SASSSVSSSYLY, (SEQ ID NO:1); CDR2 (STSNLAS, SEQ ID NO:2); and CDR3 (HQWNRYPYT, SEQ ID NO:3); and the heavy chain variable region CDR sequences CDR1 (SYVLH, SEQ ID NO:4); CDR2 (YINPYNDGTQYNEKFKG, SEQ ID NO:5) and CDR3 (GFGGSYGFAY, SEQ ID NO:6); and b) detecting the antibody construct bound to pancreatic cancer cells.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody construct is exposed to the sample in vivo or in vitro.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-pancreatic cancer antibody or fragment thereof binds to a linear peptide comprising the amino acid sequence, WTWNITKAYPLP (SEQ ID NO:7) or to a cyclic peptide comprising the amino acid sequence ACPEWWGTTC (SEQ ID NO:8).
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody construct is a bispecific or multispecific antibody comprising (i) at least one PAM4 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof; and (ii) at least one antibody or fragment that binds to a hapten on a targetable construct; and the method further comprises administering a targetable construct attached to at least one diagnostic agent.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-pancreatic cancer antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is conjugated to at least one diagnostic agent.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the diagnostic agent is selected from the group consisting of a radionuclide, a contrast agent, a fluorescent agent, a chemiluminescent agent, a bioluminescent agent, a paramagnetic ion, an enzyme and a photoactive diagnostic agent.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the diagnostic agent is a radionuclide selected from the group consisting of ¹¹⁰In, ¹¹¹In, ¹⁷⁷Lu, ¹⁸F⁵²Fe, ⁶²Cu, ⁶⁴Cu, ⁶⁷Cu, ⁶⁷Ga, ⁶⁸Ga, ⁸⁶Y, ⁹⁰Y, ⁸⁹Zr, ^(94m)Tc, ⁹⁴Tc, ^(99m)Tc, ¹²⁰I, ¹²³I, ¹²⁴I, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, ¹⁵⁴⁻¹⁵⁸Gd, ³²P, ¹¹C, ¹³N, ¹⁵O, ¹⁸⁶Re, ¹⁸⁸Re, ⁵¹M, ^(52m)Mn, ⁵⁵Co, ⁷²As, ⁷⁵Br, ⁷⁶Br, ^(82m)Rb, ⁸³Sr, or other gamma-, beta-, or positron-emitters.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the radionuclide is ¹⁸F and the method further comprising PET imaging.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the paramagnetic ion is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III), manganese (II), iron (III), iron (II), cobalt (II), nickel (II), copper (II), neodymium (III), samarium (III), ytterbium (III), gadolinium (III), vanadium (II), terbium (III), dysprosium (III), holmium (III) and erbium (III).
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the diagnostic agent is a fluorescent labeling compound selected from the group consisting of fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, phycoerytherin, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, o-phthaldehyde and fluorescamine, or a chemiluminescent labeling compound selected from the group consisting of luminol, isoluminol, an aromatic acridinium ester, an imidazole, an acridinium salt and an oxalate ester, or a bioluminescent compound selected from the group consisting of luciferin, luciferase and aequorin.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is used in intraoperative, endoscopic, or intravascular procedure.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody construct is a DNL (dock and lock) construct comprising (i) at least one copy of a chimeric, human or humanized PAM4 antibody or fragment thereof, wherein the PAM4 antibody or fragment thereof comprises the light chain variable region CDR sequences CDR1 (SASSSVSSSYLY, (SEQ ID NO:1); CDR2 (STSNLAS, SEQ ID NO:2); and CDR3 (HQWNRYPYT, SEQ ID NO:3); and the heavy chain variable region CDR sequences CDR1 (SYVLH, SEQ ID NO:4); CDR2 (YINPYNDGTQYNEKFKG, SEQ ID NO:5)and CDR3 (GFGGSYGFAY, SEQ ID NO:6); and (ii) at least one copy of a hapten-binding antibody or fragment thereof.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the hapten-binding antibody is an h679 antibody or an h734 antibody.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the DNL construct comprises two copies of a PAM4 Fab fragment, each attached to a DDD moiety, and one copy of an h679 Fab fragment attached to an AD moiety, wherein the two copes of the DDD moiety form a dimer that binds to the AD moiety to form the DNL construct. 